Demented

Demented is a term often used to describe severe cognitive impairment, usually in the elderly, that interferes with normal social and occupational functioning. It is not a specific disease, but rather a group of symptoms that may accompany certain diseases or conditions. Symptoms may include memory loss, confusion, personality changes, and impaired reasoning.

Causes

Dementia is caused by damage to brain cells. This damage interferes with the ability of brain cells to communicate with each other. When brain cells cannot communicate normally, thinking, behavior and feelings can be affected.

The brain has many distinct regions, each of which is responsible for different functions (for example, memory, judgment and movement). When cells in a particular region are damaged, that region cannot carry out its functions normally.

Different types of dementia are associated with particular types of brain cell damage in particular regions of the brain. For example, in Alzheimer's disease, high levels of certain proteins inside and outside brain cells make it hard for brain cells to stay healthy and to communicate with each other. The brain region called the hippocampus is the center of learning and memory in the brain, and the brain cells in this region are often the first to be damaged. That's why memory loss is often one of the earliest symptoms of Alzheimer's.

Symptoms

While symptoms of dementia can vary greatly, at least two of the following core mental functions must be significantly impaired to be considered dementia:

• Memory
• Communication and language
• Ability to focus and pay attention
• Reasoning and judgment
• Visual perception

People with dementia may have problems with short-term memory, keeping track of a purse or wallet, paying bills, planning and preparing meals, remembering appointments or traveling out of the neighborhood.

Many dementias are progressive, meaning symptoms start out slowly and gradually get worse. If you or a loved one is experiencing memory difficulties or other changes in thinking skills, don't ignore them. See a doctor soon to determine the cause.

Treatment

There is currently no cure for dementia. However, there are ways to manage symptoms. Medications and non-drug treatments can help with both cognitive and behavioral symptoms. Researchers are looking for new treatments to alter the course of the disease and improve the quality of life for people with dementia.

See also

• Alzheimer's disease
• Vascular dementia
• Dementia with Lewy bodies
• Mixed dementia
• Parkinson's disease dementia
• Frontotemporal dementia
• Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
• Normal pressure hydrocephalus
• Huntington's disease
• Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome

Demented Resources
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