Dementia

Dementia is a <a href="/facts/Syndrome/JFVb3x8f">syndrome</a> associated with many <a href="/facts/Neurodegenerative_disease/HTDrVEqc">neurodegenerative diseases</a>, characterized by a general decline in cognitive abilities that affects a person's ability to perform <a href="/facts/Activities_of_daily_living/0AYDmmSA">everyday activities</a>. This typically involves problems with <a href="/facts/Memory/zucwQIEX">memory</a>, <a href="/facts/Thinking/loD3aFv9">thinking</a>, <a href="/facts/Behavior/0Y1VqmVX">behavior</a>, and <a href="/facts/Motor_control/IwK2rqNW">motor control</a>. Aside from <a href="/facts/Memory_impairment/PaMeGJH7">memory impairment</a> and a <a href="/facts/Thought_disorder/gLa4Vepf">disruption in thought patterns</a>, the most common symptoms of dementia include emotional problems, difficulties with <a href="/facts/Language/IRcTok2q">language</a>, and decreased <a href="/facts/Motivation/uqLMfLKq">motivation</a>. The symptoms may be described as occurring in a <a href="/facts/Continuum_(measurement)/oz3r6kvm">continuum</a> over several stages. Dementia ultimately has a significant effect on the individual, their <a href="/facts/Caregiver/7zSs6as3">caregivers</a>, and their social relationships in general. A diagnosis of dementia requires the observation of a change from a person's usual mental functioning and a greater <a href="/facts/Cognitive/ga0tSBul">cognitive</a> decline than might be caused by the normal <a href="/facts/Aging/AxL4qCW4">aging</a> process.
Several diseases and injuries to the brain, such as a <a href="/facts/Stroke/DwpjdzY0">stroke</a>, can give rise to dementia. However, the most common cause is <a href="/facts/Alzheimer%27s_disease/w7Ad6tdg">Alzheimer's disease</a>, a neurodegenerative disorder. The <a href="/facts/DSM-5/kwhcSJcg">Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5)</a>, has re-described dementia as a <a href="/facts/DSM-5/kwhcSJcg">mild or major neurocognitive disorder</a> with varying degrees of severity and many <a href="/facts/Etiology/Bz8MAeSq">causative</a> subtypes. The <a href="/facts/International_Classification_of_Diseases/mxID6rJp">International Classification of Diseases</a> (<a href="/facts/ICD-11/AAItcoCH">ICD-11</a>) also classifies dementia as a neurocognitive disorder (NCD) with many forms or subclasses. Dementia is listed as an acquired brain syndrome, marked by a decline in cognitive function, and is contrasted with <a href="/facts/Neurodevelopmental_disorder/vfBhK1S6">neurodevelopmental disorders</a>. It is also described as a spectrum of disorders with causative subtypes of dementia based on a known disorder, such as <a href="/facts/Parkinson%27s_disease/xpekKj6x">Parkinson's disease</a> for <a href="/facts/Parkinson%27s_disease_dementia/nE8dqpLP">Parkinson's disease dementia</a>, <a href="/facts/Huntington%27s_disease/2P6yCoeK">Huntington's disease</a> for Huntington's disease dementia, <a href="/facts/Vascular_disease/0ckNa44L">vascular disease</a> for <a href="/facts/Vascular_dementia/New27nwl">vascular dementia</a>, <a href="/facts/HIV_infection/RqLIEMuJ">HIV infection</a> causing <a href="/facts/HIV_dementia/VAEhUk19">HIV dementia</a>, <a href="/facts/Frontotemporal_lobar_degeneration/8h5NFjUt">frontotemporal lobar degeneration</a> for <a href="/facts/Frontotemporal_dementia/Xxso4JA5">frontotemporal dementia</a>, <a href="/facts/Lewy_body_disease/PeaYRpS1">Lewy body disease</a> for <a href="/facts/Dementia_with_Lewy_bodies/Sw6vTGkh">dementia with Lewy bodies</a>, and <a href="/facts/Prion_disease/UJfG9EfS">prion diseases</a>. Subtypes of neurodegenerative dementias may also be based on the underlying pathology of misfolded proteins, such as <a href="/facts/Synucleinopathies/LTJUrVu2">synucleinopathies</a> and <a href="/facts/Tauopathies/y8Uw7zGv">tauopathies</a>. The coexistence of more than one type of dementia is known as <a href="/facts/Mixed_dementia/T0MRDE9I">mixed dementia</a>.
Many neurocognitive disorders may be caused by another medical condition or disorder, including brain tumours and <a href="/facts/Subdural_hematoma/M5nnWM1Q">subdural hematoma</a>, <a href="/facts/Endocrine_disorder/nDuNHkJY">endocrine disorders</a> such as <a href="/facts/Hypothyroidism/oqtQDu2F">hypothyroidism</a> and <a href="/facts/Hypoglycemia/BlAmuP6k">hypoglycemia</a>, <a href="/facts/Nutritional_deficiencies/KasQy5MR">nutritional deficiencies</a> including <a href="/facts/Thiamine/37RC4MCS">thiamine</a> and <a href="/facts/Vitamin_B3/sgjmUWzx">niacin</a>, infections, immune disorders, liver or kidney failure, <a href="/facts/Metabolic_disorder/mXnwRURT">metabolic disorders</a> such as <a href="/facts/Kufs_disease/5wcALPo7">Kufs disease</a>, some <a href="/facts/Leukodystrophies/1KA87hfs">leukodystrophies</a>, and <a href="/facts/Neurological_disorder/eQKKs7jX">neurological disorders</a> such as <a href="/facts/Epilepsy/wawyp56a">epilepsy</a> and <a href="/facts/Multiple_sclerosis/vghXl0IQ">multiple sclerosis</a>. Some of the neurocognitive deficits may sometimes show improvement with treatment of the causative medical condition.
Diagnosis of dementia is usually based on <a href="/facts/Medical_history/P2xSfuYF">history of the illness</a> and <a href="/facts/Cognitive_testing/07ruSL1L">cognitive testing</a> with <a href="/facts/Neuroimaging/dA5Cteaf">imaging</a>. <a href="/facts/Blood_test/zevsf3rC">Blood tests</a> may be taken to rule out other possible causes that may be reversible, such as hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid), and to determine the dementia subtype. One commonly used cognitive test is the <a href="/facts/Mini%E2%80%93mental_state_examination/JwcjHp47">mini–mental state examination</a>. Although the greatest risk factor for developing dementia is aging, dementia is not a normal part of the aging process; many people aged 90 and above show no signs of dementia. Several risk factors for dementia, such as smoking and <a href="/facts/Obesity/RBF9y5Vl">obesity</a>, are preventable by lifestyle changes. <a href="/facts/Screening_(medicine)/YhrXum3t">Screening</a> the general older population for the disorder is not seen to affect the outcome.
Dementia is currently the seventh leading cause of death worldwide and has 10 million new cases reported every year (approximately one every three seconds). There is no known <a href="/facts/Cure/e3pR0HnH">cure</a> for dementia. <a href="/facts/Acetylcholinesterase_inhibitor/VbN36u7y">Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors</a> such as <a href="/facts/Donepezil/kmCkGdVx">donepezil</a> are often used and may be beneficial in mild to moderate disorder, but the overall benefit may be minor. There are many measures that can improve the quality of life of a person with dementia and their caregivers. <a href="/facts/Cognitive_behavioral_therapy/LRALDkkU">Cognitive and behavioral interventions</a> may be appropriate for treating the associated symptoms of depression.

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Dementia