Dementia symptoms usually progress gradually. However, a person’s symptoms may worsen suddenly. This could be part of the disease’s progression or a symptom of a major medical concern.
Dementia is a progressive, unpredictable group of diseases that can suddenly get worse.
Dementia symptoms are unpredictable. They may remain stable for an extended period before suddenly worsening. On the other hand, they might gradually deteriorate over time, or both might happen.
Another medical problem may potentially cause a sudden worsening of symptoms. It is not always easy to determine the cause from the symptoms alone, particularly if the individual suffering from dementia has trouble communicating.
Dementia patients may not be able to express their problems well, so it’s critical to interpret their behavior as both a communication signal and a warning indication that something might be amiss.
Read on to learn more about the sudden worsening of dementia symptoms and what to do when you notice it.
How Do Various Forms of Dementia Usually Progress?
Dementia is not a single disease. It is a collection of disorders that impact social, cognitive, and memory skills. That said, numerous conditions may lead to dementia. Since different causes have different consequences and treatment options, knowing the type your loved one has is crucial.
The following are the most prevalent types of dementia and their symptoms.
Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s is the most prevalent type of dementia in the United States. Short-term memory issues are the early manifestation of its symptoms.
A person may exhibit forgetfulness, mood, and personality changes in the early to middle stages. Symptoms in later stages may include:
- Increased confusion and memory loss
- Trouble with language
- Difficulty performing multi-step tasks, such as dressing
- Inability to recognize family and friends
- Impulsive behavior
- Anger outbursts
- Restlessness and anxiety, especially in the evening or late afternoon
Vascular Dementia
Vascular dementia is one of the most prevalent types of dementia, caused by blood vessel damage or injured brain tissue as a result of insufficient blood, oxygen, or nutrients reaching the brain. It might result in memory loss symptoms that resemble those of Alzheimer’s.
Other symptoms include:
- Difficulty planning
- Having trouble paying attention
- Poor decision-making
- Impaired social functioning.
- Inability to find the correct words
- Personality changes, such as aggression
- Hallucinations
Frontotemporal Demantia
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) primarily affects younger people in their 40s, 50s, or early 60s.
It can be challenging for patients with advanced FTD to swallow, chew, move about, and control their bladder and bowels due to muscle weakness and coordination issues.
Dementia with Lewy Bodies
Its symptoms are mild at first and get worse over time, much like in most other types of dementia. However, in contrast to Alzheimer’s, for instance, early-stage symptoms usually consist of:
- Movement issues such as changed handwriting, stiff or rigid muscles, a stumbling gait, and poor coordination
- Misidentification of familiar individuals
- Hallucinations
- REM sleep behavior disorder
- Dropping of blood pressure upon standing
- Dizziness
Parkinson’s Disease Dementia
Hallucinations, sleep disturbances, and cognitive impairment are some of the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease that are comparable to those of Lewy body dementia.
Mixed Dementia
Most persons with this kind of dementia are 80 years of age or older. People most frequently have both the blood vessel issues connected to vascular dementia and the aberrant protein accumulation linked to Alzheimer’s. Therefore, they might exhibit traits of both illnesses.
What could cause dementia to worsen suddenly?
Besides dementia itself, there may be other causes why symptoms are getting worse.
Delirium
Delirium is a mental state characterized by confusion, disorientation, and the inability to think or remember clearly. There is an underlying physical cause for it. The following are some typical causes of delirium:
- Infection: Infections are a prevalent source of delirium. Individuals with dementia are particularly susceptible to urinary tract infections (UTIs).
- Anesthesia and Surgery: Anesthesia or the physical difficulties of a medical procedure might cause delirium. Delirium may occasionally remain after a patient leaves the hospital.
- Medication: Medication side effects account for around 39% of all delirium instances. If someone has just started or stopped taking a medicine, this may be the cause of their delirium, as medication withdrawal can also cause this condition.
Delirium can also occur in people with advanced dementia as a response to minor disorders like sleep deprivation, constipation, or dehydration.
Speaking with a doctor about any symptoms of illness or infection is crucial because delirium can be hard to differentiate from dementia.
Physicians treat delirium by treating its underlying cause. For instance, they might alter the patient’s medication or prescribe antibiotics for an infection.
Brain Injury or Stroke
A brain injury resulting from a fall or a stroke can produce symptoms comparable to dementia. Here are some indicators of a stroke to look out for [1]:
- Sudden confusion
- Having trouble understanding speech or speaking
- Immobility on one side of the body or face
- Abrupt change in coordination or balance
- Sudden vision loss
- Sudden and intense headache.
Call 911 or the nearest emergency number if a person exhibits these symptoms.
Following a head injury, people may potentially experience new or exacerbated dementia symptoms.
Change in Routine
Routines are typically comforting to those with dementia. A regular schedule makes it easier to know what to anticipate. This implies that abrupt changes in habits might worsen dementia symptoms. This is particularly true for people who are under stress.
- Changes that may worsen dementia symptoms include:
- Shifting to a nursing home or assisted living facility
- Moving in with family or leaving the family home
- Hospitalization
- Having new caregivers
Sundowner’s Syndrome
Sundowning, also known as sundowner’s syndrome, is a condition in which dementia symptoms worsen as the evening approaches. Caregivers may perceive this change as sudden. Confusion, agitation, or frustration may increase as a consequence. Also, the individual might speak less clearly.
Medications may alleviate particular symptoms like agitation or hallucinations. A regular schedule, exposure to natural light, and caring support can also help reduce symptoms.
Rapidly Progressing Dementia
Rapidly progressing dementia is a kind of dementia that develops more quickly than more prevalent dementia types. Usually, an underlying sickness like prion disease, an autoimmune disease that targets the brain, an infection, or cancer leads to this condition [2].
Since physicians can treat some of these disorders, they must test for other possible reasons before determining if this type of dementia can be treated.
Warning Signs that Your Loved One’s Dementia Symptoms Might be Worsening
If you see any of the following symptoms suddenly appearing, have your loved one with dementia examined by a doctor as soon as possible [3].
Incontinence
Incontinence is a typical symptom of dementia in its middle and late stages. If it appears suddenly, it can be a sign of another issue, like an untreated UTI.
Issues with Language
The person with dementia is increasingly struggling to find words or forgetting what they were saying mid-sentence. Additionally, they suddenly have trouble keeping up with a conversation.
Agitation and Aggression
The person appears restless and does things they didn’t do previously, like pace, yell, or scream.
Losing Inhibitions
The person begins acting or speaking inappropriately, which is not typical of them. Examples include making offensive remarks or undressing in public.
Confusion
The person with dementia gets confused about the time of day. For instance, they wake up and get dressed at night. They abruptly stop recognizing familiar faces or seem confused about where they are, even if they are at home.
Delusions
The individual may experience a sudden fear that people may harm them or cannot be trusted. For instance, they may accuse someone of stealing from them or attempting to hurt them.
Hallucinations
Your loved one may start hearing and seeing things that aren’t there.
What to do if Symptoms of Dementia Suddenly Worsen
If a person with dementia has new or worsening symptoms, don’t assume that’s normal or that they can’t be treated. Make a doctor’s appointment as soon as possible.
If the person with dementia can communicate or express themselves, inquire about their symptoms and experiences. Here are a few methods that can aid in diagnosis [4]:
- Maintaining a record of every new symptom and when it appears
- Discussing any recent changes with a physician, such as moving into an assisted living facility
- Observing any bruises or other indications of injury.
Alzheimer’s Research Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping caregivers of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. We provide the latest information and news about the illness and helpful tips to help caregivers cope with their daily caregiving challenges. We realize the most important thing that a caregiver needs is financial assistance. Therefore, we provide grants to caregivers to ease their financial burden. Caregivers can apply for grants here: Alzheimer’s Grant Application.
You can also help caregivers in their endeavor by donating as much as possible: Donation To Alzheimer’s Research Associations.
References
- Signs and Symptoms of Stroke. CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/signs-symptoms/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/signs_symptoms.htm. Updated Online: 24th October, 2024. Accessed: 11th December, 2024.
- Geschwind, M.D., 2016. Rapidly progressive dementia. Continuum: Lifelong Learning in Neurology, 22(2), pp.510-537.
- Millard, E. What to Do When You Notice a Sudden Worsening of Dementia Symptoms. The Key. https://thekey.com/learning-center/sudden-worsening-dementia-symptoms. Accessed: 11th December, 2024.
- Villines, Z. Sudden worsening of dementia symptoms. Medical News Today. Updated Online: 29th November, 2023. Accessed: 11th December, 2024.
- How to Navigate the Sudden Worsening of Dementia Symptoms. Endeavor Home Care. https://endeavorhomecare.com/blog/how-to-navigate-the-sudden-worsening-of-dementia-symptoms/. Accessed: 11th December, 2024.
