Definition of Dementia
Not a Normal Part of Aging
Loss or Impairment of Cognitive Abilities
Notes:
Dementia refers to an acquired persistent loss of intellectual functions due to a brain disorder. Athis is not a normal part of the aging process, even though the vast majority of persons who experience a dementia are persons over 65 years of age. Demen
Dementia does not mean crazy. It has been chosen by the medical profession as the least offensive and most accurate term to describe this group of illnesses.
Alzheimerís disease appears to be the most frequent cause of irreversible dementia in adults.
Alzheimerís disease is not a new disease; however, it has not been widely studied until recently. Ancient Greek and Roman writers described symptoms similar to Alzheimerís disease in their writings.
Their symptoms got its name in the early part of the 20th century when Alois Alzheimer, a German physician, described the signs of the disease in the brain.
In the past, terms like ìsenilityî and ìhardening of the arteriesî were commonly used to describe dementia but do not accurately explain the disease processes at work.