8 Facts to Help Evaluate the Post-Holiday Syndrome: Dementia or Pseudo-Dementia

Holiday gatherings provide families the opportunity to notice changes in their loved ones. A common observation is that a family member appears depressed or more forgetful than they used to be. Medical Care Corporation, the leader in cognitive assessment technologies, offers eight facts about memory loss, dementia and depression to help clarify what might be causing any noticeable changes.

Irvine, CA (PRWEB) -- The holiday season frequently reunites family members and often provides an opportunity for them to notice changes in one another. The most common observation is that an aging family member appears depressed or more forgetful. Medical Care Corporation, the leader in memory assessment technologies, offers the following facts about memory loss, dementia and depression to help clarify what might be causing any noticeable changes:

1. Memory Loss and Dementia can be caused by many conditions including depression.
2. Short-term memory loss and the inability to store newly learned information are the first symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.
3. A diagnosis of major depressive disorders requires that patients must experience persistence in their depression-related symptoms for at least a few weeks.
4. Depression can be a consequence or cause of dementia; the presence of depression does not exclude a coexisting memory disorder.
5. Memory loss due to Alzheimer's disease is characterized by impaired ability to store newly learned information. Therefore providing cues or hints will not help Alzheimer's patients recall recently learned information.
6. Individuals with memory loss due to Depression are able to at least partially store newly learned information, but have impaired ability to retrieve it after a few minutes delay. However, when provided cues, they are generally able to recall recently learned information.
7. Alzheimer's patients are often unaware of at least some of their deficits and will frequently say they do not have a problem or will overestimate their abilities.
8. Persons with Depression are commonly very aware of their deficits and will often underestimate their abilities.

About Medical Care Corporation
Medical Care Corporation specializes in the development of medical technologies that enable healthcare providers to deliver improved levels of care in the field of dementia. Medical Care Corporation's electronic dementia care system gathers, organizes, and synthesizes patient and treatment information so that healthcare providers are equipped to provide care at the highest possible level. The company's MCI Screen is 97.3% accurate in distinguishing a pre-dementia stage called mild cognitive impairment (MCI) from normal aging. The company is also a leader in communicating the value of prevention and early detection to patients and caregivers through its website and educational materials. Information for Health Care Providers is available at: www.mccare.com; Educational information and a free memory screen is available for Patients and Caregivers at: www.preventad.com

###