What Is Dementia?

Dementia is not a specific disease but is rather a general term for the impaired ability to remember, think, or make decisions that interferes with doing everyday activities. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia. Though dementia mostly affects older adults, it is not a part of normal aging.

How common is dementia?

Isn’t Dementia Part of Normal Aging?

September 15, 2022 • 6 min read by biocerebralfit_ce2s0s

No, many older adults live their entire lives without developing dementia. Normal aging may include weakening muscles and bones, stiffening of arteries and vessels, and some age-related memory changes that may show as:

As people age, some memory changes can be expected. If this is the case, what would be considered “normal?” In normal aging, memory decline is often in the areas of learning new information or recalling newly learned information. For example, a person may have trouble remembering new names, have a harder time multi-tasking, or have a slower reaction time. That being said, memories from long ago, procedural-type memory, and facts known prior to aging should generally be maintained.

So what is dementia then? Dementia is a general term, not a specific disease. Dementia is a decline in memory and other mental abilities that greatly interferes with daily living. There are many causes for symptoms of dementia, however the most common is Alzheimer’s disease, which makes up 60-80% of all dementia cases.

Alzheimer’s disease is progressive, and there is currently not a cure. While the exact cause is unknown, it is generally known to be a disease of the aging. In the United States, 5.8 million people have Alzheimer’s, 1 in 8 people over 65 years and 1 in 2 people over 85 years.

The signs and symptoms of dementia will vary depending on the progression. At the onset, folks may experience challenges with their short-term memory, and struggle with things such as paying the bills, preparing meals, forgetting appointments, or getting lost in a known area.

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What are the signs and symptoms of dementia?

Because dementia is a general term, its symptoms can vary widely from person to person. People with dementia have problems with:

Memory
Attention
Communication
Reasoning, judgment, and problem solving
Visual perception beyond typical age-related changes in vision

Signs that may point to dementia include:

Getting lost in a familiar neighborhood
Using unusual words to refer to familiar objects
Forgetting the name of a close family member or friend
Forgetting old memories
Not being able to complete tasks independently

What increases the risk for dementia?

Age

The strongest known risk factor for dementia is increasing age, with most cases affecting those of 65 years and older

Family history

Those who have parents or siblings with dementia are more likely to develop dementia themselves.

Race/ethnicity

Older African Americans are twice more likely to have dementia than whites. Hispanics 1.5 times more likely to have dementia than whites.

Poor heart health

High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking increase the risk of dementia if not treated properly.

Traumatic brain injury

Head injuries can increase the risk of dementia, especially if they are severe or occur repeatedly.

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Dementia-like conditions that can be reversed

Some causes of dementia or dementia-like symptoms can be reversed with treatment. They include:

Infections and immune disorders. Dementia-like symptoms can result from fever or other side effects of your body’s attempt to fight off an infection. Multiple sclerosis and other conditions caused by the body’s immune system attacking nerve cells also can cause dementia.
Metabolic problems and endocrine abnormalities. People with thyroid problems, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), too little or too much sodium or calcium, or problems absorbing vitamin B-12 can develop dementia-like symptoms or other personality changes.
Nutritional deficiencies. Not drinking enough liquids (dehydration); not getting enough thiamin (vitamin B-1), which is common in people with chronic alcoholism; and not getting enough vitamins B-6 and B-12 in your diet can cause dementia-like symptoms. Copper and vitamin E deficiencies also can cause dementia symptoms.
Medication side effects. Side effects of medications, a reaction to a medication or an interaction of several medications can cause dementia-like symptoms.
Subdural hematomas. Bleeding between the surface of the brain and the covering over the brain, which is common in the elderly after a fall, can cause symptoms similar to those of dementia.
Brain tumors. Rarely, dementia can result from damage caused by a brain tumor.
Normal-pressure hydrocephalus. This condition, which is caused by enlarged ventricles in the brain, can result in walking problems, urinary difficulty and memory loss.

Risk factors that can’t be changed

Many factors can eventually contribute to dementia. Some factors, such as age, can’t be changed. Others can be addressed to reduce your risk.

Age. The risk rises as you age, especially after age 65. However, dementia isn’t a normal part of aging, and dementia can occur in younger people.
Family history. Having a family history of dementia puts you at greater risk of developing the condition. However, many people with a family history never develop symptoms, and many people without a family history do. There are tests to determine whether you have certain genetic mutations.
Down syndrome. By middle age, many people with Down syndrome develop early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.

What Is Dementia?