Dementia

Dementia is a syndrome associated with many neurodegenerative diseases, characterized by a general decline in cognitive abilities that affects a person's ability to perform everyday activities. This typically involves... Wikipedia

• Specialty:  Neurology, psychiatry
• Symptoms:  Decreased ability to think and remember, emotional problems, problems with language, decreased motivation, general decline in cognitive abilities
• Usual onset:  Varies, usually gradual
• Duration:  Varies, usually long term
• Causes:  Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body disease, frontotemporal dementia, and others
• Risk factors:  Lack of education and socialization, family history
• Diagnostic method:  Cognitive testing (mini–mental state examination)
• Differential diagnosis:  Delirium, hypothyroidism
• Prevention:  Early education, prevent high blood pressure, prevent obesity, no smoking, social engagement
• Medication:  Varies depending on the type, most medications have a small benefit
• Treatment:  Varies, some types can be reversed, but supportive care is given to people suffering from irreversible forms of dementia.
• Frequency:  55 million (2021)
• Deaths:  2.4 million (2016)
• Data source:  SearchOye