Dementia

Dementia

“Dementia is the loss of cognitive functioning
— thinking, remembering, and reasoning —
to such an extent that it interferes with a person’s…”.1

Umbrella

What may the Dementia Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Alzheimer’s Disease (AD)
  • Dementia
  • Lewy Body Dementia
  • Mixed Dementia
  • Vascular Dementia

Definition

What is dementia?

DotS the definition of dementia may vary. In About Alzheimer’s & Dementia: What Is Dementia? Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) definition is:

“Dementia is an umbrella term for a collection of symptoms that are caused by disorders affecting the brain and impact on memory, thinking, behaviour and emotion”.2

The (United States) National Institute on Aging’s (NIA) definition is:

“Dementia is the loss of cognitive functioning — thinking, remembering, and reasoning — to such an extent that it interferes with a person’s daily life and activities”.3

Cause

What causes dementia?

In Dementia: Overview the World Health Organization (WHO) explain:

“Dementia is a syndrome that can be caused by a number of diseases which over time destroy nerve cells and damage the brain, typically leading to deterioration in cognitive function (i.e. the ability to process thought) beyond what might be expected from the usual consequences of biological ageing. While consciousness is not affected, the impairment in cognitive function is commonly accompanied, and occasionally preceded, by changes in mood, emotional control, behaviour, or motivation”.4

Aging

Is dementia a normal part of aging?

According to the WHO:

“Although age is the strongest known risk factor for dementia, it is not an inevitable consequence of biological ageing”.5

Symptoms

What may be symptoms of dementia?

In About Alzheimer’s & Dementia: What Is Dementia? the ADI elaborate on:

“The specific symptoms a person living with dementia experiences will depend upon what parts of the brain are affected and/or the specific disease that is causing their dementia. Symptoms may include:

  • Loss of memory
  • Difficulty in finding the right words or understanding what people are saying
  • Difficulty in performing previously routine tasks
  • Personality and mood changes”.6

Alzheimer’s Disease

What is the association between Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia?

In Dementia: Key Facts, dated 31 March 2025, the WHO note:

“Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia and may contribute to 60–70% of cases”.7

Women

In women, how common is dementia?

In Dementia: Key Facts the WHO note:

  • “Women are disproportionately affected by dementia, both directly and indirectly. Women experience higher disability-adjusted life years and mortality due to dementia, but also provide 70% of care hours for people living with dementia”.8

Hormone Therapy

Is hormone therapy recommended to prevent dementia?

On page three of Menopause and Menopause Hormone Therapy: 1. Who Is MHT For? Who Might Not Need MHT?, the International Menopause Society’s (IMS) Leaflet for Women for World Menopause Day 2024 the IMS note:

“Women who go through menopause at the natural age (after 45) and have no bothersome symptoms usually don’t need MHT. Some people believe MHT is a “fountain of youth”, but there’s little scientific evidence for that. It’s important to remember MHT is not recommended solely to prevent aging, memory loss, or dementia”.9

Prevention

How may dementia be prevented?

In 10 Healthy Habits for Your Brain the (United States) Alzheimer’s Association explain:

“Positive, everyday actions can make a difference in brain health, even lowering the risk of cognitive decline and possibly Alzheimer’s and dementia. Incorporate some or all of these habits into your life to help maintain a healthy brain. Take charge of your brain health today — it’s never too early or too late to start”.10

Dementia

Health Care Provider

What if I would like reassurance I do not have dementia?

If you would like reassurance you do not have dementia, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this.

In Dementia: About Dementia – What Is Dementia the (United Kingdom) NHS also note:

“It’s normal for your memory to be affected by stress, tiredness, certain illnesses and medicines. But if you’re becoming increasingly forgetful, particularly if you’re over the age of 65, it’s a good idea to talk to a GP about the early signs of dementia”.11

Who is a GP?

DotS and/or DotC (Depending on the Country) a GP may be a qualified and registered general practitioner, a medical practitioner, a medical doctor or a doctor.

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Dementia?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Dementia?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

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New or Updated

  1. 10 Healthy Habits for Your Brain
    Dementia
  2. About Alzheimer’s & Dementia
  3. About Dementia
  4. About Dementia
  5. About Dementia
  6. About Dementia: Types of Dementia
  7. About Dementia: What Is Dementia?
  8. Addressing 14 Health and Lifestyle Factors Could Prevent Nearly Half of Global Dementia Cases [+ Video]
  9. After A Diagnosis of Dementia: Next Steps Checklist
  10. Alz.co.uk [Alzheimer’s Disease International]
  11. Alzheimer’s Disease
  12. Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia
  13. Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia: Reducing Risk for Dementia
    Dementia
  14. Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias
  15. Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias: About the ADEAR Center [Alzheimer’s Disease Education and Referral Center]
  16. Alzheimer’s Disease – Multiply Languages
  17. Alzheimer’s and Dementia: Alzheimer’s Disease Fact Sheet [+ Video: How Alzheimer’s Changes the Brain [Video]
  18. Brain Health
  19. Brain Health Habit Builder
  20. Caregiving
  21. Communicating With Someone With Dementia
  22. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2025 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Three Symptoms Linked To Cognitive Complaints
  23. Could It Be Perimenopause? How Hormones Influence the Brain
  24. Dementia
  25. Dementia
  26. Dementia
  27. Dementia A To Z
  28. Dementia Guide
  29. Dementia Prevention, Intervention, and Care: 2024 Report of the Lancet Standing Commission
  30. Dementia-Related Pain: What Caregivers Need To Know
  31. Dementia Research and Clinical Trials: Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers
  32. Dementia Symptoms Checklist
    Dementia
  33. Dementia vs. Alzheimer’s Disease: Are They The Same?
  34. Dementia With Lewy-Bodies
  35. Dementia With Lewy Bodies (DLB): What Is It and What Causes It?
  36. Dementia vs. Alzheimer’s Disease: Are They The Same?
  37. Dementia – Multiply Languages
  38. Dementia-Related Pain: What Caregivers Need To Know
  39. Dementia.org.au [Dementia Australia]
  40. Dementia: Diagnosis & Treatment
  41. Dementiauk.org [Dementia UK, United Kingdom]
  42. Depression and Dementia
  43. Diets Rich In Flavonoids Linked To Better Brain Health
  44. Do You Have Early Signs of Dementia?
  45. Doctor Explains Every Type of Dementia (Mild To Severe)
  46. Does Obesity Really Increase Your Risk of Dementia?
  47. Early Stages of Dementia: Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment
  48. Five Things You Should Know About Dementia
  49. Forgetfulness Normal or Not
  50. Frequently Asked Questions Around Dementia
  51. Fronto-Temporal Dementia
  52. Frontotemporal Dementia: What Is It?
  53. Here Are Eight Ways To Reduce Your Risk of Dementia
  54. Hormones and Dementia Risk
  55. How Do We Maintain A Healthy Brain?
  56. International Menopause Society Statement – Use of Postmenopausal Hormone Therapy and Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease In Finland: Nationwide Case-Control Study
  57. Living With Dementia
  58. Looking After Someone With Dementia
  59. Mayo Clinic Minute: What Is Vascular Dementia? [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  60. Memory and Cognition As You Age
  61. Memory Loss In Women – Is It Age or Menopause?
  62. Memory Loss Is Not a Normal Part of Aging
  63. Memory, Forgetfulness and Aging: What’s Normal and What’s Not
  64. Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Dementia: Nationwide, Nested Case-Control Study
  65. Dementia Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
  66. Mild Cognitive Impairment vs. Dementia: What’s the Difference?
  67. Mixed Dementia
  68. Most Women Unaware Dementia Is the Leading Cause of Death
  69. My Doctor Thinks I Have Mild Cognitive Impairment – What Does It Mean?
  70. NINDS Dementia Information Page [National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, United States]
  71. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Dietary Supplements and Cognitive Function, Dementia, and Alzheimer’s Disease: What the Science Says
  72. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Ginkgo
  73. New WHO Guidelines: Up To 45% of Dementia Risk Could Be Prevented or Delayed [15 July 2026]
  74. Other Languages
  75. Perimenopause, Menopause and Dementia
  76. Physical Activity Over the Adult Life Course and Risk of Dementia In the Framingham Heart Study
  77. Risk Reduction of Cognitive Decline and Dementia: WHO Guidelines, Second Edition
  78. Science In 5: Episode #122 – Dementia
  79. Signs and Symptoms of Lewy Body Dementia
  80. Sleep Apnea Contributes To Dementia In Older Adults, Especially Women
  81. The Best Foods To Eat for Better Memory and Brain Health
  82. The Middle-Aged Brain Changes A Lot – and It’s Key To Understanding Dementia
  83. Types of Dementia
  84. Understanding Different Types Dementia Dementia
  85. Untangling the Threads of Early-Onset Dementia
  86. Vascular Dementia
  87. Vascular Dementia: What Is It and What Causes It?
  88. What Do We Mean By “Brain Health” and Why Should You Care About It?
  89. What Is Dementia?
  90. What Is Dementia? Symptoms, Causes and Treatment
  91. What Is Frontotemporal Dementia?
  92. What Is the Difference Between Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease?
  93. When To Seek Help for Memory Loss
  94. Why Is Dementia Different for Women?
  95. World Alzheimer’s Month [September]
    Alzheimer’s Disease
  96. World Menopause Day 2024: Leaflet for Women – Menopause and Menopause Hormone Therapy [Multiply Languages]
  97. Young Onset Dementia: Perimenopause and Menopause
  98. Your Daily Dose: A Dementia Diagnosis Shouldn’t Halt Your Life
  99. Your Daily Dose: Dementia Risk Builds Over A Lifetime – It’s Never Too Late To Act.
  100. Your Daily Dose: Learn About the Early Signs of A Dementia

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Basics of Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia: What Is Dementia? Symptoms, Types, and Diagnosis.  Content Reviewed: 08 December 2022. National Institute on Aging https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-dementia Accessed: 15 March 2026
  2. About Alzheimer’s & Dementia: What Is Dementia? Alzheimer’s Disease International https://www.alzint.org/about/ Accessed: 15 March 2026
  3. Basics of Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia: What Is Dementia? Symptoms, Types, and Diagnosis.  Content Reviewed: 08 December 2022. National Institute on Aging https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-dementia Accessed: 15 March 2026
  4. Dementia: Overview. 31 March 2025. World Health Organization https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dementia Accessed: 15 March 2026
  5. Dementia: Risk Factors and Prevention. 31 March 2025. World Health Organization https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dementia Accessed: 15 March 2026
  6. About Alzheimer’s & Dementia: What Is Dementia? Alzheimer’s Disease International https://www.alz.co.uk/about-dementia Accessed: 15 March 2026
  7. Dementia: Key Facts. 31 March 2025. World Health Organization https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dementia Accessed: 15 March 2026
  8. Dementia: Key Facts. 31 March 2025. World Health Organization https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dementia Accessed: 15 March 2026
  9. Menopause and Menopause Hormone Therapy: 1. Who Is MHT For? Who Might Not Need MHT? 2024:3. International Menopause Society https://www.imsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024-WMD-Leaflet_English.pdf Accessed: 15 March 2026
  10. 10 Healthy Habits for Your Brain. Alzheimer’s Association https://www.alz.org/help-support/brain_health/10-healthy-habits-for-your-brain Accessed: 15 March 2026
  11. Dementia: About Dementia – What Is Dementia. Page Last Reviewed: 20 July 2023. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dementia/about/? Accessed: 15 March 2026
Topic Last Updated: 08 October 2026 – Topic Last Reviewed: 15 March 2026

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