Patient Care

Dementia / Major Neurocognitive Disorder

2023/10/24
What is Dementia?

Dementia, or Major Neurocognitive Disorder is an acquired, persistent and progressive disease that causes deterioration in memory, intellect, and personality. It is not part of normal ageing and this deterioration tends to affect a person’s everyday functioning.

What are the signs & symptoms of Dementia?

The main symptoms of Dementia are:

  • Changes in mood or behaviour
  • Changes in personality
  • Difficulty in performing familiar tasks
  • Disorientation of time and place
  • Loss of initiative or motivation
  • Memory loss that affects day-to-day function
  • Misplacing things
  • Poor or decreased judgement
  • Problems with abstract thinking
  • Problems with language

Types of Dementia include:

  • Alzheimer's Disease
  • Frontal Lobe Dementia
  • Lewy Body Dementia
  • Parkinson’s Disease Dementia
  • Vascular Dementia
What are the treatment options for Dementia?

Non-curative medication such as cognitive enhancers can slow down the progress of cognitive decline. Sometimes, medication is also used to reduce Dementia-related symptoms such as agitation, aggression, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance, hallucinations, and delusions. An important aspect of Dementia care is treatment approaches that does not involve medication. Examples of these are psychoeducation, modifying the environment and communication styles, having activities, and reminiscing, among many others. Caregiver support, home intervention services, Dementia day care centres, and other domiciliary services are sometimes arranged for, depending on the needs of the patient.

Find A Doctor

Click here to access our Find A Doctor directory for a list of doctors treating this condition across our NUHS institutions.

You can search by -
  • Condition name 'Dementia / Major Neurocognitive Disorder' AND
  • Institution
1E Kent Ridge Road, NUHS Tower Block, Singapore 119228
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National University Health System
  • National University Hospital
  • Ng Teng Fong General Hospital
  • Alexandra Hospital
  • Jurong Community Hospital
  • National University Polyclinics
  • Jurong Medical Centre
  • National University Cancer Institute, Singapore
  • National University Heart Centre, Singapore
  • National University Centre for Oral Health, Singapore
  • NUHS Diagnostics
  • NUHS Pharmacy
  • Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine
  • Faculty of Dentistry
  • Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health
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