Dementia is the progressive decline in cognitive function due to conditions that affect the brain. These conditions, such as Alzheimer's disease, can impair intellectual functioning and interfere with normal relationships and activities. Common symptoms of dementia include:
Memory loss
Personality changes
Behavioral problems
Difficulty solving problems and maintaining emotional control.
Medications are now available to improve symptoms and slow down the progression of Alzheimer's and other forms of dementias. This condition most typically affects the elderly; however, it is not a normal part of the aging process.
(Click Dementia for more information on this topic, including statistics on how many people are thought to have dementia in the United States.)