Alzheimer's & Dementia Services of Northern Indiana: Common Definitions

Normal Age-Associated Memory Loss

Slowdown of the ability to process new information (e.g., learn a new card game

Slowdown of short-term memory (e.g., where did I put my keys, glasses?)

Slowdown of search and retrieval functions (e.g., forgetting names, words

Dementia

The loss of cognitive or intellectual function, such as thinking, remembering, and reasoning, so severe that it interferes with a person's daily functioning and everyday life

Not a disease in itself, but a group of symptoms that accompanies certain diseases or physical conditions

Symptoms include poor judgment, disorientation, short attention span

More than 50 different types of dementia exist, 15-20% are treatable, so it is important to get a comprehensive clinical assessment

Treatable Dementia (or "Pseudo-dementia")

Depression
Alcoholism
Drug reactions
Thyroid disorders (or other metabolic)
Nutritional deficiencies
Brain tumors
Head injuries
Infections (e.g., AIDS, meningitis, UTI)
Grief reactions
Vision and hearing loss
Fatigue

Causes of Progressive Dementia
(links to definitions)

Alzheimer's Disease

Multi-infarct dementia / vascular dementia

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

Normal Pressure Hydrocephalu

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