dementia

American  

[dih-men-shuh, -shee-uh] / dɪˈmɛn ʃə, -ʃi ə /

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.

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dementia British  

/ -ʃɪə, dɪˈmɛnʃə /

noun

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

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dementia Scientific  

/ dĭ-mĕn′shə /

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.

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Other Word Forms

• demential adjective

Etymology

Origin of dementia

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

Compare meaning

How does dementia compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• dementia vs. senility

Example Sentences

"My husband's got dementia, so I have had a lot of background," a visibly moved actress Anna Calder-Marshall, who plays the ailing mother in the film, told a press conference.

From Barron's

Alzheimer's is the most common type of dementia and affects roughly 57 million people worldwide.

From Science Daily

The incidence of dementia among the elderly has fallen sharply in recent decades, several studies have found.

From The Wall Street Journal

One in three people born today will develop dementia in their lifetime -- yet there is still no cure.

From Science Daily

Kemp confirmed he would feature in a storyline about dementia, which he said holds "deep personal meaning" to him due to family connections.

From BBC

Related Words

• brain damage
• mental disorder