Definition: Impairment of intellectual function (also known as cognition) that is progressive and interferes with normal functioning. Primary dementia may develop slowly with increasing memory deficits; impairment of abstract thinking and poor judgement. As the condition progresses the person may have a clouding of the conscious state, depression, agitation, sleeplessness and paranoid ideation.
Dementia can be caused by Alzheimer's disease, brain tumors, chronic alcohol abuse, cerebral hemorrhage, infectious disease of the brain including syphilis or toxins and drugs.
Pronunciation: de-men'she-a
Also Known As: senility, insanity
Common Misspellings: dimentia
Examples: An older man was showing signs of dementia.