What Is Dementia, from the Alzheimer's Association

/Home/About Dementia/About Dementia

Dementia

Dementia is a general term for loss of memory and other mental abilities severe enough to interfere with daily life. It is caused by changes in the brain.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, accounting for 50 to 70 percent of cases. Other types of dementia include vascular dementia, mixed dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies and frontotemporal dementia. For more information about other causes of dementia, please see Related Dementias, at:

http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_related_diseases.asp

Doctors have identified other conditions that can cause dementia-like symptoms. These dementia-like symptoms can be reversed if they are caused by treatable conditions, such as depression, drug interaction, thyroid problems, excess use of alcohol or certain vitamin deficiencies.