Knowra Dementia Dementia Dementia is a group of conditions causing acquired decline in memory and other cognitive abilities severe enough to interfere with daily functioning. It is a clinical syndrome, not a single disease.
Alzheimer's disease : A progressive brain disease and the most common cause of dementia, marked by amyloid plaques and tau tangles. It is the leading cause of the syndrome and often begins with impaired episodic memory.
Mild cognitive impairment : A measurable decline in cognitive ability that does not substantially disrupt independent daily functioning. It marks a boundary between noticeable impairment and the functional interference defining dementia.
Dementia diagnosis : The clinical process of identifying dementia, characterizing its pattern, and evaluating possible causes. Assessment establishes whether cognitive decline disrupts daily function and what may be causing it.
Normal aging : The typical gradual changes in body and cognition that occur with age without necessarily impairing independence. Occasional forgetfulness can accompany aging, but dementia involves decline that disrupts everyday functioning.
Vascular dementia : Cognitive impairment caused by cerebrovascular disease, including strokes and damage to small brain vessels. Its symptoms arise from impaired blood supply and may follow strokes or accumulate gradually.
Neuropsychological assessment : The systematic evaluation of cognitive abilities using standardized tests and clinical interpretation. Testing can identify which abilities are impaired and help characterize the syndrome.
Mini-Mental State Examination : A brief standardized screening test of orientation, memory, attention, language, and visuospatial skills. It is a familiar screening measure, though scores alone cannot diagnose dementia.
Depression : A mental health disorder involving persistent low mood or loss of interest, often accompanied by changes in sleep, energy, and concentration. Depression can impair concentration and memory, sometimes resembling or coexisting with dementia.
Dementia with Lewy bodies : A neurodegenerative disease characterized by cognitive decline, visual hallucinations, fluctuating attention, and parkinsonism. It combines dementia with characteristic attention fluctuations, hallucinations, and movement symptoms.
Activities of daily living : Routine tasks people perform to manage personal care and everyday life. Loss of independence in these activities helps distinguish dementia from milder cognitive impairment.
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