Physical complaints (the technical term is 'somatization') are perhaps more common in dementia than most people are aware. In fact, it's only through tools such as this website, which allow patients and families to have their own say, that the extent of physical complaints in dementia becomes clear.

One point needs to be made up front however, and emphasized. Just because someone has dementia does not mean that they can't have 'true bill' physical complaints - meaning complaints that reflect an underlying physical problem arising form a medical condition. But some supposedly physical problems appear to arise as an aspect of dementia. This is an area that is not yet well understood. Over time, we hope that users of this website will help us better understand the issue of physical complaints in dementia.