Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe the loss of cognitive or intellectual function. Common symptoms include a gradual loss of memory, problems with reasoning or judgment, disorientation, difficulty in learning, loss of language skills, and decline in the ability to perform routine tasks. People with dementia also experience changes in their personalities and behavioral problems, such as agitation, anxiety, delusions (believing in a reality that does not exist), and hallucinations (seeing things that do not exist).

Many conditions can cause dementia. Dementia related to depression, drug interaction, thyroid and other problems can be reversible if detected early. That's one of the reasons it's important to obtain a professional assessment, so that the actual cause can be identified and proper care can be provided. In addition to Alzheimer's, several other diseases also cause dementia, such as Parkinson's, Creutzfeldt-Jakob, Huntington's and multi-infarct or vascular disease (disruption of blood flow to the brain) caused by a massive stroke or several tiny strokes.