Dementia is sometimes misdiagnosed as Vestibular Disorders

It has been reported that some patients have been misdiagnosed with Vestibular Disorders, when in fact the correct diagnosis in their specific case was Dementia.

Dementia is a term used by doctors to describe general decreases in memory and decline in cognitive ability that impacts daily life. The most common cause of dementia is the disease Alzheimer’s. This is a progressive neurological disorder and it causes the cells of the brain to shrink and die. But dementia does not always mean Alzheimer’s and there is no test to determine if someone has dementia besides a thorough medical history and ruling out other diseases that can cause dementia. As these symptoms are fairly hard to determine the severity of doctors can easily misdiagnose dementia and one of these diseases whose symptoms often mimic it. Including depression, urinary tract infections that spread to the kidneys, thyroid disease, untreated diabetes, Lyme disease from a tick bite, Vitamin B12 deficiency.

Always consult your doctor or health professional, and do not self diagnose.

Symptoms can include:

Memory loss, trouble with visual and spatial abilities, trouble reasoning or problem-solving, trouble communicating, trouble handling complex tasks, difficulty with organizing and planning, disorientation and confusion, difficulty with motor functions and coordination

Symptoms are a guideline only and may apply to either the diagnosis or the reported misdiagnosis, or both. Consult your specialist for further information.

Further reference: