PSYCH 115 Lecture Notes - Lecture 21: Mild Cognitive Impairment, Dementia, Encephalitis
Document Summary
A profound decline or deterioration in mental functioning characterized by significant impairment of memory, thinking processes, attention, judgment, and by specific cognitive deficits. There are many causes of dementia, including brain diseases, such as alzheimer"s disease and pick"s disease, and infections or disorders that affect the functioning of the brain, such as meningitis, hiv infection, and encephalitis. In some cases, the dementia can be halted or reversed, especially when it is caused by certain types of tumors, seizures, metabolic disturbances, and treatable infections, or when it results from depression or substance abuse. General paresis- a form of dementia that accompanies the development of untreated, late-stage syphilis. Senile dementias- forms of dementia that begin after age 65. Presenile dementias- forms of dementia that begin at or before age 65. Although the risk of dementia is greater in later life, dementia is not a consequence of normal aging. It is a sign of a degenerative brain disease, such as alzheimer"s.
