What is Dementia?

Dementia is a broad term used to describe memory loss along with changes to thinking ability, social skills and emotional responses. It is caused by deterioration in several areas of the brain.

A person with dementia may find it harder to do previously familiar tasks, such as writing, reading, showering and using numbers.

The most common type of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease, the cause of which is unknown. Although Alzheimer’s disease is not a normal part of ageing, it is more common in older people and may affect about one in four people over the age of 85. Vascular dementia is the second most common type of dementia, associated with problems in the flow of blood to the brain.