Dementia

Dementia is a descriptive term for a collection of symptoms that affect the brain. People with dementia may experience cognitive difficulties, personality changes, and behavioral problems. While dementia most often affects the elderly, it is not a normal part of aging. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia, but many different conditions can cause it. There is no way to reverse or stop most cases of dementia. In the case of progressive dementias, drugs are available to improve symptoms and slow their progression, but these medications will not cure dementia.

 

An Introduction to Dementia

Dementia is not a specific disease. Dementia is a descriptive term for a collection of symptoms (such as personality changes, behavioral problems, and memory problems) that can be caused by a number of conditions that affect the brain. All forms of dementia result from the death of nerve cells or the loss of communication among these cells.
 
Although Alzheimer's disease and certain other conditions are technically causes of dementia, they are also often referred to as types of dementia. Likewise, terms such as "vascular dementia" are often used to describe causes as well as types of dementia.
 

Dementia Causes

The human brain is very complex and many factors can interfere with its functioning. Although dementia research scientists have uncovered many of these factors, they have not yet been able to fit these puzzle pieces together in order to form a complete picture of how dementias develop.
 
There are many possible causes of dementia. The most common cause of dementia is Alzheimer's disease. Over 50 percent of people diagnosed with dementia have Alzheimer's disease. Other dementia causes can include:
 
Other conditions that can also cause dementia or dementia-like symptoms include:
 
  • Reactions to medications
  • Metabolic problems, such as hypothyroidism
  • Nutritional deficiencies, such as vitamin B12 deficiency
  • Infections, including HIV/AIDS
  • Poisoning
  • Brain tumor or brain cancer
  • Heart and lung problems
  • Anoxia or hypoxia (conditions in which the brain's oxygen supply is either reduced or cut off entirely).
     
Although dementia is common in very elderly individuals, it is not a normal part of the aging process. Dementia can also occur in children (see Childhood Dementia).
 
(Click Causes of Dementia for more information about what may cause dementia.)
 
(Dementia Continued: Page 2)
Add this article to your Favorites     Email this article     Print
Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD