noun

dementia

dih-MEN-shuh/dɪˈmenʃə/

Decline in memory and thinking caused by brain disease that interferes with daily life.

The assessment shows declining memory and thinking associated with the woman's dementia.

A compact two-panel comparison shows the same woman changing from independently completing simple clock-copying and picture-memory tasks to struggling markedly with them during a supported assessment.

Etymology

deLatinaway from

+mentLatinmind

+iaLatinabstract noun ending

The image of being 'away from one's mind' underlies an older, broad term for mental incapacity. The selected medical sense is more specific: serious decline in memory and thinking ability.

In context

TheFriendsoftheSemel10:07

so dementia is a cognitive loss it can be a memory loss or impaired thinking and that cognitive loss has to be severe enough that it interferes with the person's daily life

Open Mind Event "The Small Guide to Alzheimer's disease" with Dr. Gary Small

More examples

The doctor explains that dementia can have several different causes.
His dementia affects his memory and ability to make decisions.
The center supports families caring for someone with dementia.

Forms

dementia · dementias

Similar words

cognitive impairment: May be milder and need not interfere with daily life.