Dementia
From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dementia is the progressive decline in cognitive function. It is caused by damage or disease in the brain. It is more common in older people and symptoms include the inability to remember things. People who suffer from it tend to forget more things. A famous person who suffered from it was Augusto Pinochet, the Chilean leader.
Symptoms of dementia include declines in:
- Decision making ability
- Judgment
- Orientation in time/space
- Problem solving
- Verbal communication
Behavioural changes may include:
- Eating
- dressing (may need assistance)
- Interests
- Routine activities (may become unable to perform household tasks)
- Personality (inappropriate responses, lack of emotional control)
Some types dementia are reversible, the damage of those can be undone. Other types s are irreversible. Irreversible dementia is usually caused by an incurable disease, such as Alzheimer's disease.
The two leading causes of dementia are Alzheimer's and Multi-infarct disease.
Reversible causes of dementia also include injuries to the head or the brain.
