Conditions & Diseases: Brain & Nervous System

Dementia

See Also:
Dementia: Introduction
Dementia: Types
Dementia: Causes & Risk Factors
Dementia: Signs & Symptoms
Dementia: Stages
Dementia: Medical Tests & Diagnosis Methods
Dementia: Treatment & Prevention Options

Introduction & Overview

Dementia is a progressive loss of memory, reasoning and cognitive functions impairing the abilities to perform normal day-to-day activities like household chores, driving and personal care like bathing, dressing and feeding otherwise known as Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) (1).

Approximately 6 million people in the US suffer from dementia. It is a common phenomenon in about 6-8% of seniors over the age of 65. More than 30% of those aged 85 or older may have dementia, however, 50% of seniors above 100 years of age do not suffer from dementia (2).

It is important to note that people suffering from dementia experience a reduction in most areas of intellectual functioning such as usage of language, numbers, orientation, judgment, reasoning ability, problem solving and ability to think abstractly impairing a person’s ability to function independently (1).

“Dementia is one of the most common causes of institutionalization, morbidity and mortality among the elderly.” (3)

See Also:
Dementia: Introduction
Dementia: Types
Dementia: Causes & Risk Factors
Dementia: Signs & Symptoms
Dementia: Stages
Dementia: Medical Tests & Diagnosis Methods
Dementia: Treatment & Prevention Options

Article by Kona Vishnu, MS
Medical Writer,
OmniMedicalSearch.com