Dementia 101 – Video Information Abut Dementia

Here is an informative video on dementia from the Dementia Society of America

To learn more: Dementia Society of America

Dementia is an umbrella term for the loss of cognitive function associated with a number of neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body dementia, Huntington’s disease, and traumatic brain injury. This loss of cognitive function results from the death of once active nerve cells in the brain. The common threat between these conditions is the loss of a person’s ability to think, remember, and reason. Symptoms of dementia often include difficulties with visual perception, language skills, and ability to pay attention. Some people also suffer from the inability to control their emotions. There are many causes of dementia.

Some dementias are reversible, and some are progressive. Dementia caused by infections, metabolic disorders, nutritional deficiencies, and poisoning may be reversed with appropriate therapy. However, progressive dementias such as Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, and frontal temporal dementia only get worse with time. So being diagnosed with dementia is often a frightening experience. The diagnosis affects not only the patient, but also their families, loved ones, and caregivers. Furthermore, many individuals have what is referred to as mixed dementia, meaning: They suffer from multiple causes of cognitive dysfunction, and often the cause of dementia is not known.

The major risk factor for dementia is age, although dementia is not a normal part of aging, and many elderly people maintain high levels of cognitive function well into the 90s.