dementia

[dih-men-shuh, -shee-uh]

noun

1. a condition characterized by progressive, persistent, severe impairment of intellectual capacity, including memory loss, confusion, and emotional instability, resulting from the loss of or damage to neurons in the brain.

dementia

/ -ʃɪə, dɪˈmɛnʃə /

noun

1. a state of serious emotional and mental deterioration, of organic or functional origin

dementia

1. Deterioration of intellectual faculties, such as memory, concentration, and judgment, sometimes accompanied by emotional disturbance and personality changes. Dementia is caused by organic damage to the brain (as in Alzheimer's disease), head trauma, metabolic disorders, or the presence of a tumor.

Other Word Forms

• demential adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dementia¹

First recorded in 1800–10; from Latin dēmentia “madness,” equivalent to dēment- “out of one's mind” ( dement ) + -ia noun suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of dementia¹

C19: from Latin: madness; see _dement

Example Sentences

When Liv Heeney was 28, she discovered she had a faulty gene that would probably cause her to develop a rare form of dementia at a young age.

From BBC

What I found was an understaffed home that didn't have the right mix of staff to deal with the basic needs of residents, particularly those with dementia.

From BBC

The company still runs a dementia unit in the same building.

From BBC

Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia in the UK - but its exact cause is not yet fully understood.

From BBC

It is associated with symptoms including memory loss, depression and progressive dementia.

From BBC

Related Words

• brain damage 
• mental disorder