Dementia is a general decline in a person's mental abilities that
is severe enough to interfere with daily living and activities. It affects
memory, problem solving, learning, and other mental functions.
A variety of conditions can cause dementia, including injuries to
the brain from tumors, head injury, or stroke; diseases, such as Alzheimer's
disease; or long-term alcohol dependence. People (especially older adults) who
are depressed may seem to have dementia when they do not
(pseudodementia).
People who have dementia often experience:
- Confusion and memory
loss.
- Inability to complete everyday tasks.
- Loss of
self-control leading to unexpected behavior, such as throwing things, yelling
at other people, or being suspicious of others.
- Impaired judgment
and reduced ability to make decisions and learn new things.
- An
eventual loss of control over physical functions, such as urination.
