Is incontinence a symptom of dementia?
Incontinence is an involuntary emptying of urine or stool. Those affected can no longer control their excretions arbitrarily. This often goes hand in hand with dementia.
About 70-80% of dementia patients also suffer from incontinence. This is because the region of the brain that controls bladder function is often destroyed by the dementia. The course of the disease can often be alleviated somewhat with medication, but complete continence is rarely achieved in dementia patients.
Pyschosis as a symptom of dementia
Delusions and hallucinations are characteristic of a psychosis. Finally, all forms of dementia can also cause psychotic symptoms. They are typical for Lewy Body Dementia (the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s disease).
Optical hallucinations play a major role here. Sometimes patients see people present in the room and talk to them. Some may distance themselves afterwards and know that the persons are not present.
In about one third of those affected by dementia, there are at least isolated psychotic episodes. This is called paranoid dementia. A persecution mania is a mental illness in which the patient believes that he is being observed or persecuted.
In the context of a dementia disorder, this is called paranoid dementia. In addition to memory and orientation disorders, these psychiatric abnormalities unfortunately often belong to the classic symptoms of dementia. This is experienced as an enormous burden, especially by the relatives.
Treatment options are neuroleptics, but unfortunately the persecution mania can only be influenced by medication to a limited extent. Hallucinations are unfortunately not uncommon in dementia patients. Those affected often see things that are not there in reality.
Acoustic hallucination (such as hearing voices) is not so common in dementia. In principle, however, any form of hallucination can lead to anxious and/or aggressive behavior or reinforce existing behavioral disorders. Drug therapy is often necessary. The drug of choice is risperidone. If possible, it should only be prescribed for a short time and in the lowest possible dosage.
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