An acquired organic mental disorder with loss of intellectual abilities of sufficient severity to interfere with social or occupational functioning. The dysfunction is multifaceted and involves memory, behavior, personality, judgment, attention, spatial relations, language, abstract thought, and other executive functions. The intellectual decline is usually progressive, and initially spares the level of consciousness.
An organic mental disorder in which there is a deterioration of previously acquired intellectual abilities of sufficient severity to interfere with social or occupational functioning. Memory disturbance is the most prominent symptom. In addition, there is impairment of abstract thinking, judgment, impulse control, and/or personality change. Dementia may be progressive, static, or reversible, depending on the pathology and the availability of effective treatment.
Loss of individually acquired mental skills; Alzheimer is a severe form of dementia.
A severe mental disorder involving impairment of mental ability.
The loss of mental ability and memory due to organic disease of the brain, causing disorientation and personality changes.
Condition characterized by a reduction in cognitive function.
Long-term or irreversible deterioration of intellectual functioning, affecting memory, personality, visual skills, spatial relations, and general thinking ability. Dementia may result from some kinds of organic mental disorders, as from illness or injury, or may accompany some other kinds of mental disturbances, such as schizophrenia.
Progressive state of mental decline, especially of memory function and judgment, often accompanied by disorientation, stupor, and disintegration of the personality. It may be caused by certain metabolic diseases, drug intoxication, or injury, in which cases it is often reversible once the underlying cause is treated. If, however, it is caused by a disease such as Alzheimer’s disease, by brain injury, or by degeneration brought about by aging (senile dementia), the changes that occur are irreversible.
Loss of cognitive and intellectual functioning due to a variety of brain disorders.
A progressive decline in intellectual function that makes normal thought and activity increasingly difficult.
A syndrome marked by a progressive loss of memory and other intellectual functions. Although it can occur at any age, dementia is most common in older people. Its early signs may be as subtle as simple forgetfulness and confusion. However, an affected person gradually cannot function normally and eventually becomes incapacitated. Dementia is not a normal consequence of aging. More than half of all cases are caused by Alzheimer’s disease and are irreversible. Among the potentially reversible causes of dementia are deficiencies in thyroid hormone and vitamin B12.
A chronic or persistent disorder of the mental processes due to organic brain disease. It is marked by memory disorders, changes in personality, deterioration in personal care, impaired reasoning ability, and disorientation. Presenile dementia occurs in young or middle-aged people. The term is sometimes reserved for Alzheimer’s disease and Pick’s disease, but it is important to distinguish these conditions from those brain diseases for which curative treatment may be available.
An acquired and irreversible deterioration in intellectual function. Around 10 per cent of people aged over 65 and 20 per cent of those aged 75 or over are affected to some extent. The disorder is due to progressive brain disease. It appears gradually as a disturbance in problem-solving and agility of thought which may be considered to be due to tiredness, boredom or depression. As memory failure develops, the affected person becomes bewildered, anxious and emotional when dealing with new surroundings and complex conversations. Catastrophic reactions are usually brief but are commonly associated with an underlying depression, which can be mistaken for progressive apathy. The condition progresses relentlessly with loss of recent memory extending to affect distant memory and failure to recognize even friends and family. Physical aggression, unsocial behaviour, deteriorating personal cleanliness and incoherent speech commonly develop. Similar symptoms to those of dementia can occur in curable conditions including depression, intracranial tumours, subdural haematoma, syphilis, vitamin B1 deficiency and repeated episodes of cerebral ischaemia. This last may lead to multi-infarct dementia.
A progressive, irreversible decline in mental function, marked by memory impairment and, often, deficits in reasoning, judgment, abstract thought, registration, comprehension, learning, task execution, and use of language. The cognitive impairments diminish a person’s social, occupational, and intellectual abilities. In the U.S., 4.5 million people are afflicted by dementia. The prevalence is especially high in the very elderly: about 20% to 40% of those over 85 are demented. Dementia is somewhat more common in women than in men. It must be distinguished by careful clinical examination from delirium, psychosis, depression, and the effects of medications.
A generally profound and progressive loss of intellectual function, sometimes associated with personality change, that results from loss of brain substance and is sufficient to interfere with a person’s normal functional activities.
A disorder in which mental functions break down, characterized by personality change, confusion, and lack of energy.
A collection of symptoms, known as a syndrome, linked to a chronic and progressive decline in memory, cognitive abilities such as reasoning, along with other intellectual functions. This condition also involves personality alterations, deterioration in personal grooming habits, and a sense of disorientation.
A condition marked by a comprehensive decline in brain functioning is referred to as dementia. This impairment predominantly impacts the elderly population, with approximately 1 in 20 individuals over the age of 65, and up to 1 in 5 individuals over the age of 80, experiencing this disorder.
Dementia arises from the damage inflicted upon brain tissue, with Alzheimer’s disease being the most common cause. Alzheimer’s disease brings about alterations in the structure and chemistry of the brain. The second most prevalent form is multi-infarct dementia, where narrowed or obstructed arteries in the brain restrict the supply of blood and oxygen to the tissue. This condition leads to repeated small strokes, resulting in gradual and staged deterioration. Other infrequent forms of dementia encompass Lewy body dementia (characterized by the presence of small, spherical structures known as Lewy bodies in brain tissue), dementia associated with AIDS, and decline resulting from progressive brain disorders such as Parkinson’s disease.
The primary indicators of dementia encompass progressive memory loss, disorientation, and confusion. Individuals affected by this condition may struggle to recollect recent events, experience frequent episodes of getting lost in familiar surroundings, and encounter difficulties in understanding dates and days. These symptoms often manifest gradually and may initially go unnoticed. Moreover, the person may attempt to compensate for these difficulties by engaging in confabulation, fabricating explanations to bridge the gaps in their memory.
Abrupt outbursts or socially awkward behavior can serve as initial conspicuous signs of dementia. Unpleasant personality traits may be amplified, subjecting families of those affected to accusations, unreasonable demands, or even acts of aggression. As the disease progresses, paranoia, depression, and delusions may emerge. Initial irritability or anxiety gives way to a pervasive indifference towards emotions and events. Self-care and personal hygiene are neglected, while speech becomes increasingly incoherent. Ultimately, individuals afflicted by dementia may require comprehensive nursing care.
The management of the prevalent form of Alzheimer’s disease centers around symptom alleviation. It involves ensuring the affected individual maintains cleanliness and receives proper nutrition in a comfortable environment with quality nursing care. Sedative medications may be administered to mitigate restlessness and paranoid thoughts. These interventions can contribute to alleviating distress for both the patient and their family.
In individuals with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease, certain drug therapies employing acetylcholinesterase inhibitors like donepezil have shown the potential to halt the decline in cognitive function or even restore it to a level experienced six months prior. Nevertheless, it is important to note that Alzheimer’s disease is inherently progressive, and regardless of treatment, it typically culminates in death within a decade of its onset.