My Mother Has Dementia And She Also Seems Tired A Lot And Seems To Get Stomach Troubles When She Is Anxious. Are These Because Of The Dementia?

Question

Asked by Joan

My Mother Has Dementia And She Also Seems Tired A Lot And Seems To Get Stomach Troubles When She Is Anxious. Are These Because Of The Dementia?

Answer

It is important to understand that ‘dementia' refers to a set of symptoms, and these symptoms depend upon the part of the brain that is damaged and the cause of the dementia. For example, the symptoms of a dementia caused by Alzheimer's disease differ from a dementia caused by Lewy Body disease. Symptoms such as fatigue and stomach issues are not considered ‘classic' dementia symptoms, though such symptoms may be secondary to a dementia diagnosis. These symptoms could be caused by any number of issues, including prescription drug side effects, anxiety or depression, or even a physical concern. It is important that you report these symptoms to your mother's physician and follow-up with an evaluation and assessment.