HUNTINGTON

Overview
Huntington's disease is a rare, inherited disease that causes the progressive breakdown (degeneration) of nerve cells
in the brain. Huntington's disease has a wide impact on a person's functional abilities and usually results in
movement, thinking (cognitive) and psychiatric disorders.
Huntington's disease symptoms can develop at any time, but they often first appear when people are in their 30s or
40s. If the condition develops before age 20, it's called juvenile Huntington's disease. When Huntington's develops
early, symptoms are somewhat different and the disease may progress faster.

Symptoms
Huntington's disease usually causes movement, cognitive and psychiatric disorders with a wide spectrum of signs
and symptoms. Which symptoms appear first varies greatly from person to person.
Movement disorders
The movement disorders associated with Huntington's disease can include both involuntary movement problems and
impairments in voluntary movements, such as:

 Involuntary jerking or writhing movements (chorea)

 Muscle problems, such as rigidity or muscle contracture (dystonia)
 Slow or unusual eye movements
 Impaired gait, posture and balance
 Difficulty with speech or swallowing
Cognitive disorders
Cognitive impairments often associated with Huntington's disease include:

 Difficulty organizing, prioritizing or focusing on tasks

 Lack of flexibility or the tendency to get stuck on a thought, behavior or action (perseveration)
 Lack of impulse control that can result in outbursts, acting without thinking and sexual promiscuity
 Lack of awareness of one's own behaviors and abilities
 Slowness in processing thoughts or ''finding'' words
 Difficulty in learning new information
Psychiatric disorders
The most common psychiatric disorder associated with Huntington's disease is depression. This isn't simply a
reaction to receiving a diagnosis of Huntington's disease. Instead, depression appears to occur because of injury to
the brain and subsequent changes in brain function. Signs and symptoms may include:

 Feelings of irritability, sadness or apathy

 Social withdrawal
 Insomnia
 Fatigue and loss of energy
 Frequent thoughts of death, dying or suicide
Other common psychiatric disorders include:

 Obsessive-compulsive disorder, a condition marked by recurrent, intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors
 Mania, which can cause elevated mood, overactivity, impulsive behavior and inflated self-esteem
 Bipolar disorder, a condition with alternating episodes of depression and mania
In addition to the above disorders, weight loss is common in people with Huntington's disease, especially as the
disease progresses.
Symptoms of juvenile Huntington's disease
The start and progression of Huntington's disease in younger people may be slightly different from that in adults.
Problems that often present early in the course of the disease include:
Behavioral changes

 Difficulty paying attention

 Rapid, significant drop in overall school performance
 Behavioral problems
Physical changes
 Contracted and rigid muscles that affect gait (especially in young children)
 Tremors or slight involuntary movements
 Frequent falls or clumsiness
 Seizures

Treatment
Medications for movement disorders
Drugs to treat movement disorders include the following:

 Drugs to control movement .

 Antipsychotic drugs, 
Other medications that may help suppress chorea.

Medications for psychiatric disorders

Medications to treat psychiatric disorders will vary depending on the disorders and symptoms. Possible treatments
include the following:

 Antidepressants include such drugs as citalopram

 Antipsychotic drugs such as quetiapine (Seroquel).
 Mood-stabilizing drugs such as divalproex

SEIZURES
Overview
A seizure is a sudden, uncontrolled electrical disturbance in the brain. It can cause changes in your behavior,
movements or feelings, and in levels of consciousness. Having two or more seizures at least 24 hours apart that
aren't brought on by an identifiable cause is generally considered to be epilepsy.
There are many types of seizures, which range in symptoms and severity. Seizure types vary by where in the brain
they begin and how far they spread. Most seizures last from 30 seconds to two minutes. A seizure that lasts longer
than five minutes is a medical emergency.

Symptoms
With a seizure, signs and symptoms can range from mild to severe and vary depending on the type of seizure.
Seizure signs and symptoms may include:

 Temporary confusion
 A staring spell
 Uncontrollable jerking movements of the arms and legs
 Loss of consciousness or awareness
 Cognitive or emotional symptoms, such as fear, anxiety or deja vu

Focal seizures
Focal seizures result from abnormal electrical activity in one area of your brain. Focal seizures can occur with or
without loss of consciousness:

 Focal seizures with impaired awareness. These seizures involve a change or loss of consciousness or
awareness that feels like being in a dream. You may seem awake, but you stare into space and do not respond
normally to your environment or you perform repetitive movements. These may include hand rubbing, mouth
movements, repeating certain words or walking in circles. You may not remember the seizure or even know that it
occurred.
 Focal seizures without loss of consciousness. These seizures may alter emotions or change the way things
look, smell, feel, taste or sound, but you don't lose consciousness. You may suddenly feel angry, joyful or sad.
Some people have nausea or unusual feelings that are difficult to describe. These seizures may also result in
difficulty speaking, involuntary jerking of a body part, such as an arm or a leg, and spontaneous sensory
symptoms such as tingling, dizziness and seeing flashing lights..
Generalized seizures
Seizures that appear to involve all areas of the brain are called generalized seizures. Different types of generalized
seizures include:
 Absence seizures. Absence seizures, previously known as petit mal seizures, often occur in children and are
characterized by staring into space or by subtle body movements, such as eye blinking or lip smacking. They
usually last for five to 10 seconds but may happen up to hundreds of times per day. These seizures may occur in
clusters and cause a brief loss of awareness.
 Tonic seizures. Tonic seizures cause stiffening of your muscles. These seizures usually affect muscles in your
back, arms and legs and may cause you to lose consciousness and fall to the ground.
 Atonic seizures. Atonic seizures, also known as drop seizures, cause a loss of muscle control, which may cause
you to suddenly collapse, fall down or drop your head.
 Clonic seizures. Clonic seizures are associated with repeated or rhythmic, jerking muscle movements. These
seizures usually affect the neck, face and arms on both sides of the body.
 Myoclonic seizures. Myoclonic seizures usually appear as sudden brief jerks or twitches of your arms and legs.
There is often no loss of consciousness.
 Tonic-clonic seizures. Tonic-clonic seizures, previously known as grand mal seizures, are the most dramatic
type of epileptic seizure and can cause an abrupt loss of consciousness, body stiffening and shaking, and
sometimes loss of bladder control or biting your tongue. They may last for several minutes.
Seek immediate medical help if any of the following occurs:

 The seizure lasts more than five minutes.

 Breathing or consciousness doesn't return after the seizure stops.
 A second seizure follows immediately.
 You have a high fever.
 You're experiencing heat exhaustion.
 You're pregnant.
 You have diabetes.
 You've injured yourself during the seizure.

Diagnosis

 A neurological exam.
 Blood tests. 
 Lumbar puncture. 
 An electroencephalogram (EEG)

 Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). 

 Computerized tomography (CT). 
 Positron emission tomography (PET). 
 Single-photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT).

Treatment
treatment for seizures often involves the use of anti-seizure medications. There are many different options for anti-
seizure medication. One of the more recent medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration, cannabidiol
(Epidiolex), is derived from marijuana. It's approved to treat certain seizures in children age 2 and older.

 obectomy (lesionectomy). Surgeons locate and remove the area of your brain where seizures begin.
 Multiple subpial transection. T
 Corpus callosotomy. 
 Hemispherectomy (hemispherotomy). 
 Thermal ablation (laser interstitial thermal therapy). 
Electrical stimulation

 Vagus nerve stimulation.

 Responsive neurostimulation. 
 Deep brain stimulation. 
MANIA

What are the symptoms of mania?

Symptoms of a manic episode

 Having an abnormally high level of activity or energy.

 Feeling extremely happy or excited — even euphoric.
 Not sleeping or only getting a few hours of sleep but still feeling rested.
 Having an inflated self-esteem, thinking you’re invincible.
 Being more talkative than usual. Talking so much and so fast that others can’t interrupt.
 Having racing thoughts — having lots of thoughts on lots of topics at the same time (called a “flight of
ideas”).
 Being easily distracted by unimportant or unrelated things.
 Being obsessed with and completely absorbed in an activity.
 Displaying purposeless movements, such as pacing around your home or office or fidgeting when you’re
sitting.
 Showing impulsive behavior that can lead to poor choices, such as buying sprees, reckless sex or foolish
business investments.

Psychotic symptoms of a manic episode

 Delusions. Delusions are false beliefs or ideas that are incorrect interpretations of information. An example
is a person thinking that everyone they see is following them.
 Hallucinations. Having a hallucination means you see, hear, taste, smell or feel things that aren’t really
there. An example is a person hearing the voice of someone and talking to them when they’re not really
there.

How long does a manic episode last?

Early signs (called “prodromal symptoms”) that you’re getting ready to have a manic episode can last weeks to
months. If you’re not already receiving treatment, episodes of bipolar-related mania can last between three and six
months. With effective treatment, a manic episode usually improves within about three months.

What causes mania?

Scientists aren’t completely sure what causes mania. However, there are several factors that are thought to
contribute. Causes differ from person to person.

Causes may include:

 Family history. If you have a family member with bipolar illness, you have an increased chance of
developing mania. This isn't definite though. You may never develop mania even if other family members
have.
 A chemical imbalance in the brain.
 A side effect of a medication (such as some antidepressants), alcohol or recreational drugs.
 A significant change in your life, such as a divorce, house move or death of a loved one.
 Difficult life situations, such as trauma or abuse, or problems with housing, money or loneliness.
 A high level of stress and an inability to manage it.
 A lack of sleep or changes in sleep pattern.
 As a side effect of mental health problems including seasonal affective disorder, postpartum psychosis,
schizoaffective disorder or other physical or neurologic condition such as brain injury, brain
tumors, stroke, dementia, lupus or encephalitis.
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTS

How is mania diagnosed?


You have three or more symptoms to a degree that they’re a noticeable change from your usual behavior
(four symptoms if mood is only irritable). (See the symptoms section of this article for a list of the symptoms
used as criteria.)
 The mood disturbance is severe enough to cause significant harm to your social, work or school functioning
or there’s a need to hospitalize you to prevent you from harming yourself or others, or you have psychotic
features, such as hallucinations or delusions.
 The manic episode can’t be caused by the effects of a substance (medications or drug abuse) or another
medical condition.
MANAGEMENT AND TREATMENT

How is mania treated?

Mania is treated with medications, talk therapy, self-management and family and friends support.

Medications

Talk therapy (psychotherapy)

 Psychotherapy 
 Cognitive behavioral therapy
 Family therapy is important since it’s very helpful for your family members to understand your behavior and
what they can do to help.

Other treatments

Electroconvulsant therapy (ECT) 

Bipolar disorder
Overview
Bipolar disorder, formerly called manic depression, is a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings
that include emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression).
Although bipolar disorder is a lifelong condition, you can manage your mood swings and other symptoms by following
a treatment plan. In most cases, bipolar disorder is treated with medications and psychological counseling
(psychotherapy).
Bipolar disorder care at Mayo Clinic
Symptoms

 Bipolar I disorder. You've had at least one manic episode that may be preceded or followed by hypomanic or
major depressive episodes. In some cases, mania may trigger a break from reality (psychosis).
 Bipolar II disorder. You've had at least one major depressive episode and at least one hypomanic episode, but
you've never had a manic episode.
 Cyclothymic disorder. You've had at least two years — or one year in children and teenagers — of many
periods of hypomania symptoms and periods of depressive symptoms (though less severe than major
depression).
 Other types. These include, for example, bipolar and related disorders induced by certain drugs or alcohol or due
to a medical condition, such as Cushing's disease, multiple sclerosis or stroke.
 Mania
 depression
Other features of bipolar disorder
Signs and symptoms of bipolar I and bipolar II disorders may include other features, such as anxious distress,
melancholy, psychosis or others. The timing of symptoms may include diagnostic labels such as mixed or rapid
cycling. In addition, bipolar symptoms may occur during pregnancy or change with the seasons.

Diagnosis
To determine if you have bipolar disorder, your evaluation may include:

 Physical exam. Your doctor may do a physical exam and lab tests to identify any medical problems that could be
causing your symptoms.
 Psychiatric assessment. .
 Mood charting. 
 Criteria for bipolar disorder. .
Treatment
Bipolar disorder is a lifelong condition. Treatment is directed at managing symptoms. Depending on your needs,
treatment may include:

 Medications. Often, you'll need to start taking medications to balance your moods right away.
 Continued treatment. 
 Day treatment programs. 
 Substance abuse treatment. 
 Hospitalization. 
The primary treatments for bipolar disorder include medications and psychological counseling (psychotherapy) to
control symptoms, and also may include education and support groups.
Medications
A number of medications are used to treat bipolar disorder. The types and doses of medications prescribed are
based on your particular symptoms.
Medications may include:

 Mood stabilizers.
 Antipsychotics. I
 Antidepressants. 
 Antidepressant-antipsychotic
 Anti-anxiety medications. 
Side effects
Mild side effects often improve as you find the right medications and doses that work for you, and your body adjusts
to the medications. Talk to your doctor or mental health professional if you have bothersome side effects.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a vital part of bipolar disorder treatment and can be provided in individual, family or group settings.
Several types of therapy may be helpful. These include:

 Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy (IPSRT). 

 Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). 
 Psychoeducation. 
 Family-focused therapy

TUMORS

What causes a tumor?

Your body is constantly making new cells to replace old or damaged ones that die off. Sometimes, the cells don’t die
off as expected. Or, new cells grow and multiply faster than they should. The cells start to pile up, forming a tumor.

What are the risk factors for tumors?

Tumors affect people of all ages, including children. Factors that increase the chances of developing a tumor include:

 Gene mutations (changes), such as mutated BRCA (breast cancer) genes.

 Inherited conditions, such as Lynch syndrome and neurofibromatosis (NFS).
 Family history of certain types of cancer like breast cancer or prostate cancer.
 Smoking, including exposure to secondhand smoke.
 Exposure to toxins like benzene or asbestos.
 Previous radiation exposure.
 Viruses like HPV.
 Having obesity.

What are the symptoms of a tumor?

Symptoms of a tumor vary depending on where the tumor develops and whether it’s cancerous. You may be able to
feel the mass, as with a breast lump.

You may experience:

 Fatigue.
 Fever or chills.
 Lack of appetite or unexplained weight loss.
 Night sweats.
 Pain.
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTS

How are tumors diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider performs a biopsy to determine whether a tumor is cancer. A biopsy involves removing cell
samples from a tumor. A pathologist (a medical doctor who studies diseases) examines the samples in a lab to make
a diagnosis. If a tumor is in an area that’s difficult to reach, your provider may remove the entire tumor and then do a
biopsy.

You may also get one or more of these tests:

Blood work.
Imaging scans, such as X-ray, CT scan, MRI or positron emission tomography (PET) scan.
MANAGEMENT AND TREATMENT

How are tumors treated?

Treatments for a tumor depend on many factors, including the tumor type (malignant or benign) and location.

Many noncancerous tumors don’t need treatment. But some benign tumors can continue to grow. For example,
benign brain tumors can press against healthy tissue, affecting vision or speech. Your healthcare provider may
recommend surgery to remove the tumor.

Treatments for cancerous tumors include:

 Surgery to remove the tumor.

 Chemotherapy to shrink the tumor before surgery or destroy lingering abnormal cells after surgery.
 Immunotherapy to engage the immune system to fight cancer.
 Radiation therapy to destroy abnormal cells.
 Targeted therapy to slow or stop the growth of cancer cells.
What is hemorrhage?

Hemorrhage is loss of blood from a damaged blood vessel. The bleeding can be inside or outside the body, and
blood loss can be minor or major.
POSSIBLE CAUSES

What are the most common causes of hemorrhage?

There are many possible causes of hemorrhage, including:

 Alcohol, drug or tobacco use that is heavy or long-term (bleeding in the brain).
 Blood clotting disorders.
 Cancer.
 Complications from medical procedures, such as surgery or childbirth.
 Damage to an internal organ.
 Hereditary (inherited) disorders, such as hemophilia and hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia.
 Injuries, such as cuts or puncture wounds, bone fracture or traumatic brain injury.
 Violence, such as a gunshot or knife wound, or physical abuse.
 Viruses that attack the blood vessels, such as viral hemorrhagic fever.

Depending on the location or cause, a hemorrhage might be called:

 Bruise or hematoma (a particularly bad bruise). Both involve bleeding just under the skin.
 Hemothorax, blood collecting between the chest wall and lungs.
 Intracranial hemorrhage, bleeding in the brain.
 Nosebleed.
 Petechiae, tiny spots on the skin that may be purple, red or brown.
 Postpartum hemorrhage, more bleeding than normal after childbirth.
 Subarachnoid hemorrhage, a type of stroke that can be caused by head trauma.
 Subconjunctival hemorrhage_, _broken blood vessels in the eye.
 Subdural hematoma, blood leaking into the dura mater, the membrane between the brain and skull.

How might bleeding make me feel?

The way a hemorrhage makes you feel varies a lot, depending on where it is and how severe it is. For example, with
a bruise, you may have only mild discomfort compared to head injury. Another example: Hemorrhage in the brain
may cause headache, but in the chest it may cause trouble breathing.

Serious blood loss may make you feel:

 Cool when someone touches your skin.

 Dizzy.
 Tired.
 Nauseous.
 Short of breath.
 Weak.

If severe hemorrhage is left untreated, you may experience:

  Chest pain.
 Confusion.
 Faster breathing or heart rate.
 Organ failure.
 Seizures.
 Shock.
 Coma or death.
CARE AND TREATMENT

How is bleeding treated?

Treatment for hemorrhage depends on:

 Where it is in the body.

 How serious the hemorrhage is.
 How much blood may have been lost.
 How the person is feeling overall (for example, symptoms or other injuries).

Sometimes, external bleeding can be stopped with first aid:

 Apply pressure to the wound with your hands.

 Find a dressing (clean cloth) and press on the wound.
 Tie a tourniquet near the wound, but toward the heart. You can make a tourniquet from something tied very
tightly, such as a stretchy band, cloth or belt.
 Call 911.

Seek immediate medical attention for external bleeding that won’t stop, or for suspected internal bleeding. It should
be treated in an emergency room.
WHEN TO CALL THE DOCTOR

Seek immediate medical attention if you or someone else is bleeding externally or may be bleeding internally and:

 Can’t breathe normally.

 Coughs or spits up blood.
 Faints.
 Has bleeding that can’t be stopped.
 Has severe chest or belly pain.
 Has cold or “clammy” skin.
 Is dizzy, light-headed or confused.
MIGRAINE
A migraine is a headache that can cause severe throbbing pain or a pulsing sensation, usually on one side of the
head. It's often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. Migraine attacks can
last for hours to days, and the pain can be so severe that it interferes with your daily activities.
Symptoms
Migraines, which affect children and teenagers as well as adults, can progress through four stages: prodrome, aura,
attack and post-drome. Not everyone who has migraines goes through all stages.
Prodrome
One or two days before a migraine, you might notice subtle changes that warn of an upcoming migraine, including:

 Constipation
 Mood changes, from depression to euphoria
 Food cravings
 Neck stiffness
 Increased urination
 Fluid retention
 Frequent yawning
Aura
For some people, an aura might occur before or during migraines. Auras are reversible symptoms of the nervous
system. They're usually visual but can also include other disturbances. Each symptom usually begins gradually,
builds up over several minutes and can last up to 60 minutes.
Examples of migraine auras include:

 Visual phenomena, such as seeing various shapes, bright spots or flashes of light
 Vision loss
 Pins and needles sensations in an arm or leg
 Weakness or numbness in the face or one side of the body
 Difficulty speaking
Attack
A migraine usually lasts from 4 to 72 hours if untreated. How often migraines occur varies from person to person.
Migraines might occur rarely or strike several times a month.
During a migraine, you might have:

 Pain usually on one side of your head, but often on both sides
 Pain that throbs or pulses
 Sensitivity to light, sound, and sometimes smell and touch
 Nausea and vomiting
Post-drome
After a migraine attack, you might feel drained, confused and washed out for up to a day. Some people report feeling
elated. Sudden head movement might bring on the pain again briefly.
.
, which could indicate a more serious medical problem:

 An abrupt, severe headache like a thunderclap

 Headache with fever, stiff neck, confusion, seizures, double vision, numbness or weakness in any part of the
body, which could be a sign of a stroke
 Headache after a head injury
 A chronic headache that is worse after coughing, exertion, straining or a sudden movement
 New headache pain after age 50
Changes in the brainstem and its interactions with the trigeminal nerve, a major pain pathway, might be involved. So
might imbalances in brain chemicals — including serotonin, which helps regulate pain in your nervous system.
Migraine triggers
There are a number of migraine triggers, including:
 Hormonal changes in women. 
 Drinks. These include alcohol, especially wine, and too much caffeine, such as coffee.
 Stress. Stress at work or home can cause migraines.
 Sensory stimuli. 
 Sleep changes. Missing sleep or getting too much sleep can trigger migraines in some people.
 Physical factors. Intense physical exertion, including sexual activity, might provoke migraines.
 Weather changes. A change of weather or barometric pressure can prompt a migraine.
 Medications. Oral contraceptives and vasodilators, such as nitroglycerin, can aggravate migraines.
 Foods. Aged cheeses and salty and processed foods might trigger migraines. So might skipping meals.
 Food additives. These include the sweetener aspartame and the preservative monosodium glutamate (MSG),
found in many foods.
Treatment
Migraine treatment is aimed at stopping symptoms and preventing future attacks.
Many medications have been designed to treat migraines. Medications used to combat migraines fall into two broad
categories:

 Pain-relieving medications. 
 Preventive medications. These types of drugs are taken regularly, often daily, to reduce the severity or
frequency of migraines.
Medications for relief
Medications that can be used to treat it include:
 Pain relievers. 
 Triptans. 
 Dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal
 Lasmiditan (Reyvow). 
 Ubrogepant (Ubrelvy). 
 CGRP antagonists. 
 Opioid medications. 
 Anti-nausea drugs. 
 Preventive medications
Preventive medication is aimed at reducing how often you get a migraine, how severe the attacks are and how long
they last. Options include:

 Blood pressure-lowering medications. 

 Antidepressants. .
 Anti-seizure drugs. 
 Botox injections. 
 CGRP monoclonal antibodies. 

DEMENTIA
Symptoms
Dementia symptoms vary depending on the cause, but common signs and symptoms include:
Cognitive changes

 Memory loss, which is usually noticed by someone else

 Difficulty communicating or finding words
 Difficulty with visual and spatial abilities, such as getting lost while driving
 Difficulty reasoning or problem-solving
 Difficulty handling complex tasks
 Difficulty with planning and organizing
 Difficulty with coordination and motor functions
 Confusion and disorientation
Psychological changes

 Personality changes
 Depression
 Anxiety
 Inappropriate behavior
 Paranoia
 Agitation
 Hallucinations
Causes
Dementia is caused by damage to or loss of nerve cells and their connections in the brain. Depending on the area of
the brain that's damaged, dementia can affect people differently and cause different symptoms.
Dementias are often grouped by what they have in common, such as the protein or proteins deposited in the brain or
the part of the brain that's affected. Some diseases look like dementias, such as those caused by a reaction to
medications or vitamin deficiencies, and they might improve with treatment.
Progressive dementias
Types of dementias that progress and aren't reversible include:
 Alzheimer's disease. This is the most common cause of dementia.
 Although not all causes of Alzheimer's disease are known, experts do know that a small percentage are related to
mutations of three genes, which can be passed down from parent to child. While several genes are probably
involved in Alzheimer's disease, one important gene that increases risk is apolipoprotein E4 (APOE).

 Vascular dementia. This type of dementia is caused by damage to the vessels that supply blood to your brain.
 Lewy body dementia. Lewy bodies are abnormal balloonlike clumps of protein that have been found in the
brains of people with Lewy body dementia, Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.
 Frontotemporal dementia. This is a group of diseases characterized by the breakdown of nerve cells and their
connections in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain..
 Mixed dementia. Autopsy studies of the brains of people 80 and older who had dementia indicate that many had
a combination of several causes, such as Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia and Lewy body dementia.
Studies are ongoing to determine how having mixed dementia affects symptoms and treatments.

 ).
Dementia-like conditions that can be reversed

Some causes of dementia or dementia-like symptoms can be reversed with treatment. They include:

 Infections and immune disorders. 

 Metabolic problems and endocrine abnormalities. People with thyroid problems, low blood sugar
(hypoglycemia), too little or too much sodium or calcium, or problems absorbing vitamin B-12 can develop
dementia-like symptoms or other personality changes.

 Nutritional deficiencies. 

 Medication side effects. Side effects of medications, a reaction to a medication or an interaction of several

medications can cause dementia-like symptoms.

 Subdural hematomas. Bleeding between the surface of the brain and the covering over the brain, which is
common in the elderly after a fall, can cause symptoms similar to those of dementia.

 Brain tumors. Rarely, dementia can result from damage caused by a brain tumor.

 Normal-pressure hydrocephalus. This condition, which is caused by enlarged ventricles in the brain, can result
in walking problems, urinary