Dementia

Definition

Dementia is not a specific disease but rather describes a group of symptoms affecting memory, thinking and social abilities severely enough to interfere with daily functioning.

Related terms

Alzheimer’s Disease: This is the most common cause of dementia among older adults. It involves parts of the brain that control thought, memory and language.

Cognitive Functioning: This refers to multiple mental abilities including learning, thinking, reasoning, remembering, problem solving, decision making and attention.

Neuropsychiatric Symptoms (NPS): These are psychological symptoms associated with neurological disorders like dementia. They include depression, anxiety and hallucinations.