What is Dementia? Dementia is not a single disease but a group of symptoms affecting the brain and its mental functions. As people grow older, it is natural to have slight memory loss, but if memory loss is progressing and is already affecting the person's overall functioning, dementia can be suspected. When a person has dementia, it may be very difficult for him to remember things, learn, communicate effectively, and take care of himself. Mood and personality changes are also very evident to people effected by one of the several forms of dementia. This is only an initial picture to what is dementia, there's more about it.

What is dementia? It is a disease common to older people. According to statistics, 5-8 percent of all 65 years old people have dementias. The number of cases also increases considerably with age.

What is dementia? Dementia consists of several types. The most common type of dementia is Alzheimer's disease. In fact, 50-70 percent of all dementia cases are Alzheimer's disease. In Alzheimer's disease, there is a fatal and progressive brain disease affecting approximately 5.3 million Americans. Brain cells die leading to severe memory loss and thinking and behavior problems that damage the person's capability to deal with his everyday activities and social life. When asked what is dementia? It is not just Alzheimer's disease, but majorly Alzheimer's disease.

The second most common type of dementia is known as vascular dementia. This type of dementia concerns with blood circulation. In which, there are major problems affecting the delivery of blood supply leading to strokes. Once stroke or cerebrovascular accident occurs, mental abilities begin to deteriorate. Abilities lost in persons with vascular dementias are similar to those affected by Alzheimer's disease.

The next type of dementia is mixed dementia. As it name implies, this type is a combination of two dementias. Commonly, the combination is Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. In this type, it is wrong to ask the question of what is dementia. The more appropriate question is what are the dementias?

Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is a dementia caused by the presence of Lewy Bodies in the nerve cells of the brain. These Lewy bodies are made from an abnormal formation of a certain protein in the brain. The Lewy bodies cause brain cells to die leading to dementia symptoms.

Frontotemporal dementia is a dementia which initially affects the frontal and/or temporal portions of the brain. Symptoms manifested by the patient greatly depend on the part of the brain affected. This disease is not localized in the frontal or temporal lobes, but will progress to affect other areas.

Asking what is dementia is not enough to see the total picture of this mental disorder. Another further answer to what is dementia would be to know the common signs and symptoms of dementia which include:

• Severe memory loss
• Difficulty to recognize familiar people and places
• Difficulty performing familiar tasks
• Difficulty expressing thoughts and emotions
• Disorientation with time
• Unsound judgments
• Mood changes
• Personality changes
• Inability to take care of self