Dementia Is Not Just A Matter Of Memory, This Is A Physical Change That Appears
JAKARTA - Dementia is a general term used for a group of symptoms of cognitive function reduction, such as memory, thinking, behavior, which interferes with everyday life. When experiencing dementia, various symptoms will appear in a person, including physical symptoms.
Quoted from Huffpost, on Monday, December 8, 2025, dementia is indeed a decrease in cognitive function, but physical symptoms of the condition also exist and should be a concern.
I found that many more severe physical manifestations occur in the future on the journey of dementia, said a geriatrist and professor madya, Dr. Stephanie Nothelle.
1. Difficulty walking and maintaining balance
One of the physical symptoms experienced by dementia patients is the difficulty of walking. This is also usually followed by the ability to maintain a declining balance.
"The ability to maintain balance and run smoothly, actually requires a lot of brain strength because you have to process a lot of different input," he said.
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2. Swallowing difficulties
Other physical symptoms experienced by someone with dementia are difficulty swallowing. They tend to swallow food and drinks in the wrong channel.
"People will eat or drink, and food and drinks tend to accidentally 'enter the wrong channel,' that's the term," he added.
Drinks and food that are swallowed and enter the wrong channel can lead to the lungs. If there are bacteria, it can cause infection in the lungs.
"We call it aspiration pneumonia, and that's why pneumonia is relatively common in the final stages of dementia," he said.
3. Changes in sleep patterns
Someone affected by dementia also develops changes in their sleep patterns. It may be difficult for them to realize themselves, so if you live with someone who sleeps but moves at night, hits, screams, or talks while sleeping, then you should be taken to a doctor.
"It's probably something called a REM behavioral disorder, which can often appear years before a person suffers from Parkinson's or dementia of Lewy's body," he concluded.