MEMORY loss is widely considered the most well-known symptom of dementia – and it’s often the first noticeable sign in the early stages of the disease.
But in recent years, research has suggested problems with thinking and memory may not always be caused by the mind-robbing disease.
While the number of people diagnosed with dementia is rising, doctors are becoming wise to a condition known as functional cognitive disorder (FCD).
It’s an under-recognised condition that’s different from dementia.
The Alzheimer’s Society explains that in FCD, cognitive difficulties with memory and thinking – particularly when the person can’t maintain attention – are down to a problem with how the brain is working, rather than to loss of brain cells.
But people with FCD may be just as troubled by memory problems as people with dementia.
The good news is, the dementia-mimicking condition has a much better prognosis – and could go away with the right treatment.
But the main problem is getting more people correctly diagnosed with FCD, as so few people have heard of it or understand it.
“This has been a totally ignored problem,” said Professor Jon Stone, an NHS consultant neurologist at the University of Edinburgh, told The i.
“People are really suffering – but this is potentially treatable.”
Dr Henk Swanepoel, Lead Neuropsychologist at Cygnet Health Care, explained FCD is underdiagnosed as it’s characterised mainly with cognitive difficulties such as memory and maintaining attention.
“It basically comes down to a problem with how the brain is working, instead of loss of brain cells,” said Dr Swanepoel.
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”Easy, everyday ways to prevent dementia” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6356736222112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]He said the symptoms of FCD can include:
- Mental fatigue
- Often losing track while doing things or going “blank” in thinking
- A person might also lose track of conversations or frequently misplace things
- Periods of forgetting details e.g. book, holidays, films, or at times, forgetting a word
Memory problems can be present in both dementia and FCD.
But with dementia, brain tissue is permanently damaged.
With FCD, memory problems may stay the same over time or come and go, or even get better.
This is because with FCD the cognitive problems are not due to neurodegeneration.
So what is the main cause of FCD?
“Often, anxiety or depression can be a cause for poor cognition,” said Dr Swanepoel.
“However, FCD can happen without depression or anxiety, or at times can only partly explain why a person’s symptoms are causing constant problems.
“It’s also possible that symptoms can start after a mild traumatic brain injury.”
There’s currently not a lot of information available about FCD, but early research has shown a third of those aged 60 years or less to have the condition.
“Also, recent figures indicate that patients going to a memory clinic with similar symptoms, one in four don’t have dementia,” added Dr Swanepoel.
While there’s currently no cure for dementia, effective therapies, including psychotherapy, cognitive rehabilitation, metacognitive retraining or lifestyle changes can help treat FCD.
In some cases, memory problems can just be a sign of ageing…