Are abnormal cognition and problematic behavioral symptoms always signs of dementia?
Abnormal cognition and problematic behavioral symptoms may indicate the presence of other conditions or impairments such as delirium, depression, hypothyroidism, subdural hematoma, normal-pressure hydrocephalus, or vitamin B12 deficiency. These symptoms do not always indicate dementia. • What tools are used to assess cognition? Cognition may be assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Clock Drawing Test, Blessed Orientation-Memory-Concentration Test, or other comparable instruments. • How is dementia differentiated from delirium and depression? Dementia is typically a chronic condition, with gradual progression of symptoms and is not usually characterized by altered levels of consciousness or significant day-to-day fluctuations in function and thinking. Delirium is a state of acute confusion, inattention, and altered level of consciousness, usually abrupt in onset. Fewer somatic symptoms, e.g., headaches and gastrointestinal distress, are less prevalent with dementia th
