Browsing: Dementia

Dementia is a general term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life, primarily affecting older adults. It is not a specific disease but an overall term that covers a wide range of specific medical conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease, which accounts for 60-80% of cases. Dementia involves the deterioration of cognitive functions such as thinking, remembering, and reasoning, and behavioral abilities to the extent that it interferes with a person’s daily life and activities. These changes are often accompanied by emotional problems, difficulties with language, and decreased motivation. Dementia results from a variety of diseases and injuries that primarily or secondarily affect the brain, such as neurodegeneration or strokes. While some treatments can help manage the symptoms in some people, there is currently no cure for dementia, and it progressively worsens over time. Therefore, much of the care for dementia involves supporting and improving the quality of life for individuals and their caregivers through medications, environmental adjustments, and social support.