The term "dementia"
is often confusing to people outside the medical and psychological professions. "Dementia" is a syndrome in
which a person has impaired memory, plus at least one of the following:
1. Problems in executive functions (thinking abstractly, planning, monitoring
behavior, appropriately starting or stopping behavior, switching focus, considering consequences)
2. Inability to recognize people or
objects
3.
Inability to use language appropriately
4. Inability to perform over-learned tasks, such as brushing one's teeth
Dementia is not a disease itself, but rather
a group of symptoms associated with certain diseases or physical conditions. The most common cause of dementia is Alzheimer's disease. This progressive and insidious disease often starts
with short-term memory impairment, and may also include impairment in the ability to recall faces, shapes and distances, and/or
the sequence of events. This disease is not curable, but early treatment may slow the progression of cognitive losses.
The second most common cause of dementia
is vascular disease. This is a condition in which blood flow to the brain is impaired because the blood vessels
become "clogged" or damaged (example - a stroke). This is not the same as Alzheimer's disease; however, here
too, the afflicted person becomes progressively worse, and ultimately become incapable of caring for himself.
Alzheimer's disease and vascular
disease account for more than 85% of all dementias. The remaining dementias may be caused by treatable conditions, such
as depression, certain nutritional deficiencies, and some endocrine disorders. In these cases, the cognitive problems
may resolve when the underlying medical issue is addressed.
Click here to learn about psychological tests and their limitations.
