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.

---

dementia British  

/ -ʃɪə, dɪˈmɛnʃə /

noun

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

---

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.

---

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

A choir that was formed to help people on the north coast living with dementia "has been a life-changing support network", according to those affected.

From BBC

The findings point to a connection between these foods and dementia risk, but they do not prove that eating high-fat dairy prevents dementia.

From Science Daily

Another recent study led by Han found that volunteering helped counter the harmful effects of chronic stress on systemic inflammation -- a known biological pathway linked to cognitive decline and dementia.

From Science Daily

There are a variety of disabilities, such as autism and dementia, that aren’t immediately apparent but that make it difficult for passengers to navigate a busy airport without assistance.

From The Wall Street Journal

Prof Wigfield says that chronic loneliness is linked to inflammation, and can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and dementia in later life.

From BBC

Related Words

• brain damage
• mental disorder