Dementia is gradually progressive brain disorders marked by the loss of ability to think, remember, and reason; resulting in abnormal changes in behavior and personality and inability to carry out everyday activities. These include diagnoses of Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, frontal-temporal dementia, and transmissible dementias.

There is no specific test to directly pinpoint diagnosis of dementia; however the following may help doctors to arrive at a conclusion: Medical history is monitored to check the condition of the patient. Specific blood tests can tell whether an individual is carrying genetic mutations associated with dementia. Neuropsychological testing is often done to determine if the mental ability is appropriate for the age of the patient.

There is still no known cure for dementia; often drugs are prescribed to delay the progression of the disease and improve symptoms associated with dementia.

Remarkable tendency to forget recent events, less able to comprehend with new ideas and poor adaptation to changes is often observed during the early stages of dementia. Patients tend to repeat themselves during conversation and more irritable and upset if unable to carry out a certain task. They are less likely to be concerned with activities and with other people and tend to get lost often or lose things.

Damage or changes to the brain causes dementia including brain injury as a result of tumor, stroke and head injuries; certain diseases like Parkinson’s and other dementias, and dependence to alcohol within long period of time.