9 Reversible Conditions That Could Be Mistaken for Dementia

Dementia is the loss of cognitive function and affects daily life and activities by interfering with one’s ability to think, remember, and reason. The most common forms of dementia — Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia, and Lewy body dementia — are irreversible and caused by changes in the brain. Typical dementia symptoms and signs include the following:

• Memory loss
• Poor judgment
• Difficulty with speaking
• Wandering
• Behavioral changes
• Loss of interest in life

Sometimes, these dementia signs are also seen in other health conditions due to effects on the brain. Medical conditions, disorders, and medication side effects can often cause impairments in memory that can sometimes be misdiagnosed as dementia. Symptoms usually disappear after treatment of the original medical condition, coining the term reversible dementia.

It’s important to note that an actual dementia diagnosis cannot be reversed, even when it coincides with a reversible condition with dementia-like symptoms. In a study where 9% of dementia patients had potentially reversible causes, only less than 1% of cases were actually reversed.^[01]

Let our care assessment guide you

Aging loved ones are at risk of developing many health conditions due to natural changes related to aging, such as decline in immune function. Your loved one may be diagnosed with new conditions, be prone to more infections, and begin to depend on multiple medications. All of these factors may affect their cognitive function, resulting in a potential dementia diagnosis or, in the best case scenario, a reversible form of dementia.

What conditions cause reversible dementia?

Many people wonder what the top three reversible symptoms or conditions that could be mistaken for dementia are, however, there are many more than three. From mental illnesses and medication side effects to infections and delirium, the list is lengthy. Learn more about some of the most common reversible conditions, their symptoms, and how to treat them in order to hopefully reverse the dementia symptoms below.

Depression

Depression is a common reversible dementia condition.^[02] During a major depressive episode, the condition can cause rapidly progressive dementia.

Depression symptoms that mimic dementia can include the following^[03]:

• Impaired learning and memory
• Reduced attention and concentration
• Lower processing speed
• Difficulty with problem-solving

Treatment: Because depression involves one’s emotional and physical health, there isn’t one simple fix for it. However, a combined approach using medicine, therapy, and lifestyle adjustments can help treat symptoms, resulting in the reversal of depression-induced dementia.

Medications

Some medications have been linked to cognitive decline. Many frequently prescribed medications have anticholinergic properties — or properties that block the effect of acetylcholine, a chemical messenger important for muscle control, learning, memory, and attention.^[04] Acetylcholine naturally decreases during the aging process, so anticholinergic medications are especially dangerous for an elderly person’s cognitive health.

Medications with significant anticholinergic properties include:

• Tolterodine — used to treat urinary incontinence
• Tricyclic antidepressants
• Antipsychotics — used to manage psychosis, especially schizophrenia
• Cardiovascular medications — used to manage heart and blood vessel function
• Antispasmodics — used to relieve cramps, muscle spasms, and irritable bowel syndrome
• Antiparkinsonian medications
• Benzodiazepines — used to treat anxiety or insomnia
• Corticosteroids — used to treat inflammation
• Pain medications, particularly opioids
• Chemotherapy drugs
• Statins — used to lower cholesterol

Dementia symptoms related to anticholinergic medicationscan include ^[05]:

• Delirium
• Mild cognitive impairment (MCI)
• Confusion
• Slower processing speed
• Decreased psychomotor performance
• Inability to concentrate or pay attention
• Decreased problem-solving ability
• Poor language skills

Treatment: Drug-induced dementia is usually reversible with the discontinuation of the offending drug or alteration of the patient’s current medications.^[06]

Infections

Systemic infections, including UTIs, pneumonia, HIV, Lyme disease, and COVID-19, have all been linked to cognitive decline in aging adults.^[07,08]

Cognition-specific symptoms of these infections can include the following^[09]:

• Confusion
• Agitation
• Altered levels of consciousness
• Delirium

Treatment: Symptoms will usually clear up when the infection is treated and health is restored.

Traumatic brain injuries

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) may follow a fall, sports injury, or motor vehicle accident, and they’ve been linked with dementia due to their direct impact on the brain. Certain types of TBIs, or repeated mild TBIs, may even increase the risk of developing dementia years after the injury takes place.^[10]

TBI symptoms typically appear at the time of injury, or soon after, but in some cases, they may not develop for days or weeks. Mild TBI symptoms are usually temporary and disappear within a few hours, days, or weeks. However, in more severe cases, the symptoms may last months or longer.

A TBI is diagnosed by health care professionals through an evaluation of how the injury happened and an examination of brain functions, reflexes, and senses. Brain imaging scans can also help diagnosis.

TBIs may cause dementia-like symptoms that can include the following^[10]:

• Confusion and disorientation
• Difficulty remembering new information
• Problems with finding the right words
• Headache or dizziness
• Blurred vision
• Change in energy or motivation
• Anger, paranoia, and depression
• Trouble speaking clearly
• Changes in emotion or sleep patterns

Treatment: Specialized hospital care and inpatient rehabilitation can typically reverse dementia induced by TBI. When cases are mild, they can be managed with an ER visit or a short hospital stay. Short-term, in-home care or monitoring may also help the patient get back on their feet. With a TBI, it’s important that long-term steps are taken to support continued brain health after the injury. This means that adopting a brain-healthy diet and lifestyle becomes critical to offset any future dementia risks due to brain injury.

Hypothyroidism

A reversible condition that could be mistaken for dementia is hypothyroidism — a condition in which the thyroid gland doesn’t create and release enough thyroid hormone into one’s bloodstream. This causes a slowed metabolism, fatigue, and weight gain. The condition has been linked to subtle decline in memory and executive function.

Cognitive symptoms of hypothyroidism can include a decline in the following^[11]:

• General intelligence
• Attention and concentration
• Memory
• Language
• Judgment and decision-making

Treatment: Medications used to treat hypothyroidism, such as levothyroxine, can clear up memory impairments associated with the condition.^[12]

Normal pressure hydrocephalus

Normal pressure hydrocephalus is a condition in which an abnormal buildup of cerebrospinal fluid occurs in the brain’s cavities. It’s typically seen in older adults ^[13]and has been linked to impairments in memory.

Symptoms of normal pressure hydrocephalus can include the following^[14]:

• Decreased psychomotor function
• Inability to pay attention
• Impairment of working memory
• Struggles with verbal fluency
• Impairment of executive function

Treatment: The treatment of normal pressure hydrocephalus involves surgical placement of a hollow tube in the brain to drain excess cerebrospinal fluid into the abdomen where it can be absorbed as a part of the normal circulatory process. With this procedure, dementia can be controlled or reversed.^[15]

Vitamin B12 deficiency

Vitamin B12 deficiency is common in seniors, and it has been linked to increasing levels of cognitive decline and vascular risk factors.^[16]

Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency could include the following:

• Behavioral disturbances
• Memory loss
• Sensorimotor and movement disorders

Treatment: Dementia-like symptoms are likely to go away when vitamin B12 levels return to normal with a healthy diet or supplementation.

Dehydration

Severe dehydration has been linked to decreased cognitive performance, especially in older adults.^[17]

Signs of extreme dehydration can impact the following:

• Attention
• Memory
• Executive function
• Motor coordination

Treatment: Dementia symptoms usually go away when the body is replenished with fluids. One can replenish by the consumption of clear fluids or in some cases, through IV fluids.

Delirium

Delirium is a mental state that causes confusion and disorientation, and it is typically caused by acute illness or drug intoxication. Delirium is commonly mistaken for dementia due to the many overlapping symptoms. However, unlike dementia, delirium is often reversible.

Signs and symptoms of delirium can include the following ^[18]:

• Confusion
• Trouble with concentration
• Emotional changes
• Hallucinations

Treatment: If a loved one is experiencing delirium, a visit to the doctor is warranted. A doctor can then help identify the cause of their delirium and recommend treatment. When the underlying cause of delirium is addressed, the cognitive symptoms typically fade over time.

Talk with a Senior Living Advisor

If you think your loved one is experiencing dementia symptoms due to one of the conditions above, talk to their doctor. A doctor can then identify the cause by evaluating or ordering the following :

• Personal history
• Physical examination
• Brain CT or MRI
• Routine laboratory tests

Once the cause is identified, doctors may alter your loved one’s medications, suggest therapy, or recommend routine changes to help clear up their dementia symptoms.

Alternatively, if you believe your loved one does have dementia, it is important to track their dementia symptoms and report these to their doctor so their doctor can properly diagnose them. A doctor can also help you understand the specific dementia type and help you identify potential next steps:

• Try to slow down the dementia so your loved one’s quality of life can be maintained as long as possible.
• Find in-home care or memory care options with person-centered care techniques to help your loved one feel respected and valued.

If you need help finding a suitable senior living service for your loved one, talk to a Senior Living Advisor at A Place for Mom, free of charge. They will happily offer advice and provide options based on your loved one’s individual needs and preferences.