For virtually every disease, the timing of a doctor’s diagnosis plays a crucial role—is the disease in an advanced stage, or still in its early stages? The sooner it is detected, the greater the chances of recovery or of slowing its progression. With dementia, this is understandably no different. However, patients very often put off seeing a doctor. Why?
The initial symptoms are subtle
Early diagnosis means that the disease is detected while still in its early stages. At that point, the symptoms may not yet be pronounced, nor do they necessarily have a significant impact on the patient’s life or those around them. Often, the patient is completely unaware of it. If the disease is one that modern medicine can cure, the chances of a full recovery are very high.
Unfortunately, some diseases cannot yet be cured—including the aforementioned dementia. In this case, the gradual loss of cognitive abilities is inevitable—fortunately, immediate treatment can significantly slow it down.
What causes the disease?
We define dementia as a brain disease caused by degenerative changes in brain tissue. Unfortunately, it is relatively common today—and the causes are often not entirely clear. Heredity plays a certain role in the development of this disease, as do a number of other factors.
The most common forms include vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease. Initially, the individual types differ, but in more advanced stages, the symptoms may become similar. In all cases, it is essential to intervene early.
What does the progression of the disease look like in practice?
To better visualize the progression of the disease, let’s consider a specific example.
Let’s imagine, for example, Mr. Vlasta, who is 71 years old. He is married, has two children, and three grandchildren. He feels that his memory has worsened; sometimes he can’t find the right word, and at times he feels confused. There have been times when he couldn’t remember the names of his grandchildren, whom he sees regularly.
Now, the story can continue in two possible ways.
- The first scenario is as follows:
Mr. Vlasta realizes that things aren’t what they used to be, but he always tells himself that he’s getting older and that age is likely the cause: “Others forget even more, and they’re younger!” Although he senses how unpleasant the whole situation is for him, he refuses to admit it. Those around him may not have noticed anything yet, or they, too, attribute his minor difficulties to age. The slowly developing dementia is virtually unchecked. Mr. Vlasta is not one of those active seniors who engage in sports. He doesn’t even go for walks. His only activity is spending time with his grandchildren, which he considers sufficient. In his free time, he watches TV and reads the newspaper. At this stage, his dementia faces no obstacles.
Over time, Vlasta’s memory and sense of orientation deteriorate. He himself does not notice the problem, but those around him are beginning to worry—his daughter is afraid to leave the children alone with their grandfather. Vlasta is sometimes unsure what month it is, exactly how many grandchildren he has, and—most importantly—he has great difficulty remembering new things (that his granddaughter is starting preschool, that they’ve planned a vacation with friends, that he’s already been grocery shopping).
The disease is progressing, and Vlasta is becoming dependent on the help of others. Only now does he see a doctor, who examines him, delivers a serious diagnosis, and subsequently prescribes medication to slow the progression of the disease. The quality of life for both Vlasta and his family has significantly declined. His wife takes care of him along with their children, but it’s taking a heavy toll on all of them. Vlasta’s wife is already 73 years old by this time and doesn’t have energy to spare. Their children have their own families and jobs. Vlasta is 76 years old.
- And now let’s look at how the disease would progress in the best-case scenario —if the patient had sought medical help in time:
Mr. Vlasta realizes that something isn’t quite right and, just to be safe, goes for a preventive checkup with his doctor, where he confides his problems and concerns. The doctor performs a quick preliminary examination and refers Vlasta to a specialist for further diagnosis. The results come back in less than two months.
The diagnosis of dementia is shocking, but Vlasta immediately receives medication to slow the progression of the disease and a recommendation for cognitive training. The doctor informs him of the options available in his area and schedules him for a follow-up visit. Dementia is slowed by virtually every available means— medication, cognitive training with a specialist, home-based training, sufficient physical activity and regular checkups with a doctor.
Although the disease is only slowed, Vlasta and his family will be able to maintain a similar quality of life for many more years to come. In other words, even at 76, Vlasta looks after his grandchildren, can go shopping, and needs help only with more complicated tasks. His memory isn’t what it used to be, and it’s hard for Vlasta to remember new things, but he’s still able to function well and enjoy his well-deserved retirement.
Don’t underestimate the importance of seeing a doctor
Anyone who has heard similar stories many times will, of course, say that it’s important to see a doctor as soon as possible. The reality, however, is often different.
Behind this lies fear and an effort to delay a possible diagnosis. The belief that “it can’t happen to me”—after all, there’s no history of the disease in your family. Or a “better not to know” attitude, thinking, “Once I have dementia, I won’t care anyway.”
In addition to fear and anxiety, some people feel the weight of stigma. They’re afraid that those around them won’t treat them the same way as before—that they’ll be seen as inferior, useless, or even a burden. Naturally, one’s own ego also plays a role (“I’m not senile!”). Whether it’s fear, anxiety, the effort not to lose oneself, or simply the desire to remain who I am—whatever leads to putting on the “everything’s fine” mask—the result is a worse course of the disease and an undignified end to life. Both of these factors affect not only the patient but also their loved ones.
How can we break this cycle?
First and foremost, it’s essential to accept that this is a disease that could happen to you, too. Stay active and curious while you’re still in good health, and as soon as you feel the first doubts creeping into your mind, muster the courage to seek medical help.
And if you’re unsure about one of your relatives, try to encourage them to see a doctor as well.
The early signs of dementia are very general, and other illnesses can have similar symptoms. Let the experts determine the cause. Don’t face this alone—give yourself a chance at a better and, above all, higher-quality life.
