Dementia: meaning, definitions and examples

Used in a medical context to describe a broad category of brain diseases that cause a long-term and often gradual decrease in the ability to think and remember. Often associated with older adults.

• The doctor diagnosed the patient with dementia due to the progressive loss of cognitive functions
• Families should be aware of the symptoms of dementia to seek early medical advice

A broader and less clinical term that refers to the general deterioration of mental functions, including memory, attention, and thinking skills. This term may be used to describe the natural aging process or the impact of various health conditions.

• There has been a noticeable mental decline in his cognitive abilities over the past year
• The caregiver noticed signs of mental decline in the elderly patient

Used to describe various conditions that affect memory, thinking, and reasoning but may not be as severe or specific as dementia. It can be a mild or moderate decline in cognitive functions and isn't necessarily permanent.

• The patient showed signs of cognitive impairment after the stroke
• Early intervention can help manage cognitive impairment and improve quality of life

A more general and less clinical term used to describe the inability to remember information or past events. It can be temporary or permanent and can occur for various reasons, such as aging, injury, or illness.

• After the accident, he suffered from temporary memory loss
• As people age, some degree of memory loss is normal