Dementia is a decline in memory, thinking, behavior, or daily function caused by changes in the brain. It is not a single disease; it is a group of symptoms with different causes.
Common symptoms
Symptoms may include memory problems, confusion, getting lost, language trouble, poor judgment, personality changes, difficulty managing money, or trouble with familiar tasks.
Common causes
Alzheimer's disease is a common cause. Vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, Parkinson's disease dementia, and other conditions can also cause dementia.
Sudden confusion can be caused by infection, medication, dehydration, stroke, or other urgent problems and should not be assumed to be dementia.