Dementia
The term dementia describes a decline of previously acquired intellectual, or cognitive, skills. Memory loss is the primary symptom of dementia, but other cognitive symptoms exist as well. A diagnosis of dementia requires an impairment in memory and at least one other cognitive domain (American Psychiatric Association, 1994). This can include an impairment in comprehending or expressing language, sustaining attention, orientation (knowing where one is and the date and time), visual perception, visual construction, or executive (planning and organizing) skills. In addition to cognitive deficits, dementia is often associated with behavioral and/or psychiatric changes such as poor judgment (for example, spending money recklessly or dressing inappropriately), delusions (false beliefs), or hallucinations (seeing, feeling, or hearing things that are not actually there). Disinhibition, exemplified by the use of inappropriate language (i.e., swearing), the telling of off-color jokes, or actingoverly familiar with others, can also occur. Mood symptoms, such as depression, apathy, or increased irritability, can accompany dementia as well.
Dementia is not a disease, but a syndrome that has many causes, including head injury, vitamin deficiency, hydrocephalus, epilepsy, depression, medication effects, and toxic exposure. In addition, there are a number of diseases that can cause dementia. These include Alzheimer's disease, vascular disease, HIV infection, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, Lewy body disease, and others.
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