Dementia
From the Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia that anyone can change
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. That is, 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 and 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. This means the damage of those can be undone. Other types are irreversible. This means that they cannot be undone. 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.
