Aging is a natural process that everyone goes through, but the process itself differs from person to person. Why is it that some elderly people become more graceful and at ease with life like the typical sweet old grandma and grandpa that the children love,  while some others become rude, suspicious and even violent? Lifestyle and personality play major roles, but so does one’s state of mental health.

We often write off obnoxious behaviour from elderly folks as “crankiness” and being part of the normal aging process, but it could well be a sign of dementia, or Alzheimer’s disease, especially if the person in question was never like this in his or her younger days.

According to researchers, memory loss is only one of possible symptoms that signify the onset of dementia. Behaviour changes are what we really should be on the look out for, to identify dementia early. By the time memory loss is bad enough to trigger a visit to the doctor, the dementia would already be too severe to salvage.

Some warning signs include:
-          Apathy towards once-favourite activities
- Loss of appetite
- Anxiety towards performing routine activities
- Increasingly bad-tempered, easily suspicious and aggressive (especially so when such behaviour rarely exists before)
- Loss of impulse control e.g. sudden addiction to alcohol, drugs, compulsive gambling, hurting self and others, sudden rage episodes, eating disorders
- Socially inappropriate behaviour such as making crude remarks aloud, inappropriately touching someone and defecating in public (not due to incontinence)

Some of these behaviours could be attributed to depression and poor emotional well-being, especially if a triggering episode has occurred recently. Nevertheless, poor mental health in old age is not something to be taken lightly.

Although there is still no cure for progressive dementia, getting professional help at an early stage can improve quality of life. One dementia patient, technology specialist Mike Belleville would snap at his co-workers and using strong words on his wife, without remembering it. After going to the doctor, he was diagnosed with early-onset dementia. With medication, he was able to keep his temper under control. http://finance.yahoo.com/news/behavior-changes-offer-clues-dementia-could-brewing-204841987.html

So if you find yourself or witness a loved one experiencing negative changes in behaviour and mental wellness for no apparent reason, please don’t self-diagnose it as a problem of stress, menopause/andropause or just plain crankiness. Seek professional medical advice. Regardless what it turns out to be, early treatment is always helpful in managing negative motions.


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