How To Recognize And Manage Dementia-Related Memory Loss

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 55 million people worldwide live with dementia, with 10 million new cases emerging each year. Dementia is a broad term that describes the progressive cognitive decline caused by several different neurological conditions, which may affect thinking, behavior, and memory. 

Memory loss in particular, one of the most common symptoms of dementia, can cause significant challenges for both those experiencing it and their caregivers and loved ones. As dementia progresses, these memory challenges typically worsen, further disrupting a person’s ability to function. Recognizing the signs of dementia-related memory loss may help caregivers and loved ones manage symptoms and plan for the future. Here, we’ll discuss key symptoms of dementia-related memory loss as well as treatment options that may help slow cognitive decline or support the individual in managing related distress.

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Recognizing symptoms of dementia-related memory loss

According to the Alzheimer’s Society, there are several ways to recognize that someone with dementia is experiencing memory loss. These indicators may affect various aspects of memory, including abilities related to:

Trouble forming new memories

Individuals with dementia may struggle to create new memories, including those that involve very recent information. For example, a person may forget an address or name they were just given or simple instructions for a task they’ve just been shown how to do. This can lead to repeated questions or requests for the same information, as the individual may not remember receiving it initially. In addition, caregivers might notice the person frequently misplacing items and forgetting recent conversations or appointments. 

Difficulty recalling information

Those with dementia may also find it increasingly challenging to retrieve memories. This may impact their ability to recall things they have known for a long time, including the names of loved ones, their home address, and how to use common household items. As dementia advances, these individuals may lose the ability to retrieve certain pieces of information altogether. Once this happens, a person may lose track of where they are, even when in a familiar environment. This can result in confusion, frustration, and disorientation, both for the individual and their caregivers. For instance, a person who forgets where their home is may wander off and get lost, even in their own neighborhood. 

Skewed time perception

Individuals with dementia may struggle to perceive time accurately. This may manifest as confusion about what day of the week it is, the current month, what season is occurring, and even what the current year is. Those with dementia may also not understand the passage of time, meaning that they may not know how long it’s been since a certain event or how long they’ve been in a specific place. This can cause confusion and difficulties related to planning and following schedules. For example, a person with dementia might believe they’ve just eaten when it’s actually been several hours, or think that a major event that happened many years ago occurred recently. 

Trouble recognizing others

Treatment options for dementia-related memory loss

If your loved one is experiencing memory loss, speak with their doctor for evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment support. If your loved one has already been diagnosed with dementia, regular doctor’s appointments can help you learn how to best support them in symptom management as their symptoms evolve. 

There is currently no cure for dementia, and it’s typically progressive and terminal. That said, certain medications may help slow the progression of symptoms like memory loss in some cases. Therapy can also be a useful form of emotional support, both for dementia patients and their caregivers.

Medication

According to the Alzheimer's Association, there are several types of medication that may help to slow the progression of dementia and/or help with symptom management, including amyloid-targeting approaches, cholinesterase inhibitors, and glutamate regulators. Note that medication is not right for every person or in every situation; make sure to speak to your loved one’s doctor before they start, stop, or change any medication.

• Amyloid-targeting approaches. Anti-amyloid treatments work by helping remove a protein known as beta-amyloid. With some forms of dementia, plaques of this protein can accumulate in the brain and disrupt cell function, which can result in memory loss. While these medications can be effective in changing the course of the disease in its early stages, they may also result in several side effects, some of which can be severe. One example is amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA). ARIA can result in swelling and bleeding of the brain, headache, nausea, changes in vision, and confusion. 
• Cholinesterase inhibitors. Cholinesterase inhibitors can treat memory-related symptoms by preventing the breakdown of a chemical messenger called acetylcholine, an essential component of several aspects of cognition. There are several forms of these medications that may be used to treat different types and stages of dementia.
• Glutamate regulators. This type of medication may help improve memory by regulating the chemical messenger known as glutamate, which is essential for information processing. It may also help improve a person's language, attention, and reasoning skills, potentially boosting their ability to perform simple tasks.

Cognitive rehabilitation therapy

Cognitive rehabilitation therapy can help individuals with dementia work on specific memory-related skills. While a person may set their own goals or choose what skills they want to build, this type of therapy often relates to everyday activities such as completing household tasks, using appliances, operating a phone, or taking medication. Cognitive rehabilitation sessions may take place in a person’s home to make it easier to apply these skills directly. 

There are two types of cognitive rehabilitation therapy: restorative rehabilitation and compensatory rehabilitation. Restorative rehabilitation often involves selecting skills that an individual wants to improve upon or those that they’ve lost function in. The goal is usually to develop ways to restore the function lost due to memory impairment. For those in certain stages of dementia, this may not be possible, so it may be more appropriate to undergo compensatory rehabilitation instead. This type of therapy may help individuals use tools and exercises to find workarounds for abilities they’ve lost due to dementia.

Reminiscence therapy and life story work

Reminiscence therapy and life story work focus on helping individuals recall memories of people they have met, places they have visited, and significant events they have experienced throughout their lives. The principle behind this type of therapy is that, while short-term memory is often negatively impacted for those with dementia, long-term memory may be less affected or may last longer. As such, reminiscence therapy and life story work can help to stimulate these memories and create positive feelings.

Reminiscence therapy and life story work may help improve cognitive ability, mood, and well-being for individuals experiencing mild to moderate dementia. It may also reduce strain between individuals with dementia and their caregivers or loved ones, improve functional ability, and reduce the symptoms of any co-occurring conditions, such as depression. 

Cognitive stimulation therapy (CST)

CST is a type of therapy that involves activities designed to promote mental and social stimulation. Due to the importance of socializing for those with dementia, group CST sessions may be more common. CST sessions are often personalized to the specific interests of group members. For example, if the group agrees to discuss movies or sports, the activities for that day may focus on recalling details about those topics. 

Struggling to cope with a loved one's dementia diagnosis?

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Talk therapy for caregivers and loved ones

Being around and/or caring for someone with dementia can also be a challenging experience in many ways. Managing the stress of evolving symptoms and care needs while taking care of other life responsibilities and working through difficult emotions like frustration and grief can be a lot for one person to manage. Seeking the support of a therapist may be helpful. They can act as a listening ear, help you identify and process complex emotions, and guide you in developing healthy coping mechanisms.

Online therapy for the cognitive effects of brain disease

That said, regularly attending in-person therapy sessions isn’t feasible for everyone. For example, some individuals may not be comfortable discussing challenges face-to-face. In other cases, it may be difficult to find a provider within a reasonable distance or with a flexible schedule, or it may be hard to find the time to commute to and from appointments at all. In such situations, alternatives like online therapy—which allows you to meet with a licensed therapist via phone, video call, or in-app messaging from anywhere you have an internet connection—may be more convenient. 

Effectiveness of online therapy

Research indicates that online forms of therapy can often be as effective as those delivered in person. For example, in one systematic review and meta-analysis, researchers looked at 12 trials with a total of 931 participants to assess whether there was a difference between the efficacy of online and in-person therapy. Based on various post-treatment measurements including symptom severity, overall improvement, function, working alliance, and client satisfaction, the findings suggest no significant differences between the effectiveness of these two forms of therapy delivery.