Dementia is a syndrome in which there is deterioration in memory, thinking, behaviour and the ability to perform everyday activities. Consciousness is not affected. Dementia results from a variety of diseases and injuries that primarily or secondarily affect the brain, such as Alzheimer's disease or stroke.

Dementia affects each person in a different way, depending upon the impact of the disease and the person’s personality before becoming ill. The signs and symptoms linked to dementia can be understood in three stages. the early stage of dementia is often overlooked, because the onset is gradual. Common symptoms include: forgetfulness, becoming lost in familiar places. as dementia progresses to the middle stage, the signs and symptoms become clearer and more restricting. These include: becoming forgetful of recent events and people's names, experiencing behaviour changes, including wandering and repeated questioning, having increasing difficulty with communication, becoming lost at home. the late stage of dementia is one of near total dependence and inactivity. Memory disturbances are serious and the physical signs and symptoms become more obvious. Symptoms include: becoming unaware of the time and place, having difficulty recognizing relatives and friends, having an increasing need for assisted self-care, having difficulty walking, experiencing behaviour changes that may escalate and include aggression.

There are many different forms of dementia. Alzheimer disease is the most common form and may contribute to 60–70% of cases.

There is no treatment currently available to cure dementia or to alter its progressive course. Numerous new treatments are being investigated in various stages of clinical trials.

Although age is the strongest known risk factor for dementia, it is not an inevitable consequence of ageing. Studies show that people can reduce their risk of dementia by getting regular exercise, not smoking, avoiding harmful use of alcohol, controlling their weight, eating a healthy diet, and maintaining healthy blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels.

With regards

Managing Editor

Journal of Aging and Geriatric Medicine

40 Bloomsbury Way, Lower Ground Floor, London, United Kingdom

gerontol@scitecjournals.com