What is dementia?

The word ‘dementia’ describes a set of symptoms that may include memory loss and difficulties with thinking, problem-solving or language.

These changes are often small to start with, but for someone with dementia they have become severe enough to affect daily life.

A person with dementia may also experience changes in their mood or behaviour.

Dementia is caused when the brain is damaged by diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease or a series of strokes. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, but not the only one.

What are the symptoms of dementia?

The specific symptoms that someone with dementia experiences will depend on the parts of the brain that are damaged and the disease that is causing the dementia.

A person with dementia will have cognitive symptoms (to do with thinking or memory). They will often have problems with some of the following:

• Day-to-day memory
• Concentrating, organising or planning
• Language
• Visuospatial skills
• Orientation
• Changes to mood and behaviour

Dementia guides