Dementia is a collection of symptoms caused by different diseases, such as Alzheimer's. Others include: vascular dementia, Lewy bodies, and frontotemporal. The symptoms vary with the brain part damaged and the individual, but all are degenerative and end in death.

There are common symptoms, also called "mild cognitive impairment" (MCI), that aren’t severe enough to be diagnosed as dementia.

They include difficulty with:

a) Memory

b) Concentrating

c) Familiar tasks

d) Confusion over words

e) Disorientation

f) Mood changes

For Alzheimer’s The first of seven stages can take 10 to 15 years, then symptoms appear and progress in 6 more stages; basic forgetfulness, noticeable memory difficulty, more than memory loss, decreased independence, severe symptoms, and finally lack of physical control. The duration of stages varies for different dementias and patients. Patient behaviors also vacillate day to day from good to bad and back. That increases an already heavy burden on caregivers.

Dementia is not natural aging. If you suspect symptoms, review the seven stages and try to determine what phase the dementia is in, then consult a physician. (Only physicians can make a diagnosis, but it will help communications.)

Caring for dementia patients is difficult, Penn Memory Center compiled a list of tips to help caregivers. The last three are most important, engage with the patient and trigger memories, have a plan for medical care, and take care of yourself.

The Alzheimer’s Society in Canada breaks the progression into four stages and explains what you can expect in each and provides specific strategies and steps you can take in each.