Overview

Dementia is a term used to describe a group of symptoms affecting memory, thinking, and social abilities. In people who
have dementia, the symptoms interfere with their daily lives. Dementia isn’t one specific disease. Several diseases
can cause dementia.

Dementia generally involves memory loss, which is often one of the early symptoms of the condition. However, having
memory loss alone doesn’t necessarily mean one has dementia, as memory loss can have different causes.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia in older adults, but there are other causes of dementia, and
depending on the cause, some dementia symptoms might be reversible.

Symptoms

Dementia symptoms vary depending on the cause. Common symptoms include:

Cognitive changes

• Memory loss, which is usually noticed by someone else.
• Problems communicating or finding words.
• Trouble with visual and spatial abilities, such as getting lost while driving.
• Problems with reasoning or problem-solving.
• Trouble performing complex tasks.
• Trouble with planning and organizing.
• Poor coordination and control of movements.
• Confusion and disorientation.

Psychological changes

• Personality changes.
• Depression.
• Anxiety.
• Agitation.
• Inappropriate behavior.
• Being suspicious, known as paranoia.
• Seeing things that aren’t there, known as hallucinations.

When to See a Doctor

See a health care professional if you or a loved one has memory problems or other dementia symptoms. It’s important to
determine the cause, as some medical conditions that cause dementia symptoms can be treated.

Causes

Dementia is caused by damage to or loss of nerve cells and their connections in the brain. The symptoms depend on the
area of the brain that’s damaged. Dementia can affect people differently.

Dementias are often grouped by what they have in common, such as the protein or proteins deposited in the brain or the
part of the brain that’s affected. Additionally, some diseases have symptoms similar to dementia, and certain
medications can cause reactions that include dementia symptoms. Some cases of dementia-like symptoms can be reversed
with treatment, such as infections, immune disorders, metabolic or endocrine problems, low levels of certain nutrients,
or medicine side effects.

Progressive dementias get worse over time and include Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and
frontotemporal dementia. Other disorders linked to dementia include Huntington’s disease, traumatic brain injury,
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, and Parkinson’s disease.

Risk Factors

Many factors can contribute to dementia, and some can’t be changed. Age, family history, and Down syndrome are
risk factors that can’t be changed. However, there are risk factors that can be addressed, including diet and exercise,
alcohol consumption, cardiovascular risk factors, depression, air pollution exposure, head trauma, sleep problems, low
levels of certain vitamins and nutrients, and certain medicines that can worsen memory.

Complications

Dementia can affect many body systems and, therefore, the ability to function. It can lead to poor nutrition,
pneumonia, inability to perform self-care tasks, personal safety challenges, and, in late-stage dementia, coma and
death.

Prevention

There’s no sure way to prevent dementia, but there are steps that might help reduce the risk. Keeping the mind active,
being physically and socially active, quitting smoking, getting enough vitamins, managing cardiovascular risk factors,
treating health conditions, maintaining a healthy diet, getting good-quality sleep, and treating hearing problems are
some of the preventive measures that might be beneficial.

Overview

Dementia is a term used to describe a group of symptoms affecting memory, thinking, and social abilities. In people who
have dementia, the symptoms interfere with their daily lives. Dementia isn’t one specific disease. Several diseases
can cause dementia.

Dementia generally involves memory loss, which is often one of the early symptoms of the condition. However, having
memory loss alone doesn’t necessarily mean one has dementia, as memory loss can have different causes.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia in older adults, but there are other causes of dementia, and
depending on the cause, some dementia symptoms might be reversible.

Symptoms

Dementia symptoms vary depending on the cause. Common symptoms include:

Cognitive changes

• Memory loss, which is usually noticed by someone else.
• Problems communicating or finding words.
• Trouble with visual and spatial abilities, such as getting lost while driving.
• Problems with reasoning or problem-solving.
• Trouble performing complex tasks.
• Trouble with planning and organizing.
• Poor coordination and control of movements.
• Confusion and disorientation.

Psychological changes

• Personality changes.
• Depression.
• Anxiety.
• Agitation.
• Inappropriate behavior.
• Being suspicious, known as paranoia.
• Seeing things that aren’t there, known as hallucinations.

When to See a Doctor

See a health care professional if you or a loved one has memory problems or other dementia symptoms. It’s important to
determine the cause, as some medical conditions that cause dementia symptoms can be treated.

Causes

Dementia is caused by damage to or loss of nerve cells and their connections in the brain. The symptoms depend on the
area of the brain that’s damaged. Dementia can affect people differently.

Dementias are often grouped by what they have in common, such as the protein or proteins deposited in the brain or the
part of the brain that’s affected. Additionally, some diseases have symptoms similar to dementia, and certain
medications can cause reactions that include dementia symptoms. Some cases of dementia-like symptoms can be reversed
with treatment, such as infections, immune disorders, metabolic or endocrine problems, low levels of certain nutrients,
or medicine side effects.

Progressive dementias get worse over time and include Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and
frontotemporal dementia. Other disorders linked to dementia include Huntington’s disease, traumatic brain injury,
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, and Parkinson’s disease.

Risk Factors

Many factors can contribute to dementia, and some can’t be changed. Age, family history, and Down syndrome are
risk factors that can’t be changed. However, there are risk factors that can be addressed, including diet and exercise,
alcohol consumption, cardiovascular risk factors, depression, air pollution exposure, head trauma, sleep problems, low
levels of certain vitamins and nutrients, and certain medicines that can worsen memory.

Complications

Dementia can affect many body systems and, therefore, the ability to function. It can lead to poor nutrition,
pneumonia, inability to perform self-care tasks, personal safety challenges, and, in late-stage dementia, coma and
death.

Prevention

There’s no sure way to prevent dementia, but there are steps that might help reduce the risk. Keeping the mind active,
being physically and socially active, quitting smoking, getting enough vitamins, managing cardiovascular risk factors,
treating health conditions, maintaining a healthy diet, getting good-quality sleep, and treating hearing problems are
some of the preventive measures that might be beneficial.