What Is Dementia, and How Is It Different from Being Forgetful?
Dementia is a syndrome caused by declining brain function, not simple forgetfulness. Here's how the two differ, and what causes dementia.
Older adult looking confused while touching his forehead
What Is Dementia, and How Is It Different from Being Forgetful?
Many of us still don't fully understand what dementia actually is. When you first notice a "change" in a family member's behavior or habits, you might not think too much of it at first. A small voice in your head says, "maybe mom's just tired today, so she's a bit moody" or "dad seems to have been in too much of a rush, so he forgot where he put his wallet." But as time goes on, these behavioral changes start happening more often, and at some point become a worrying "new pattern." By the time you recognize this reality, you're already on a journey of caring for someone with dementia.
What Is Dementia?
The term dementia is actually identified as a syndrome, where a syndrome is a group of symptoms that are interrelated and/or occur together. In the case of dementia, the symptoms that appear are caused by a decline in brain function, and this decline can result from several possible causes.
One of the most common diseases causing dementia is Alzheimer's, which accounts for 50–75% of dementia cases. Alzheimer's directly attacks the brain through the buildup of abnormal protein deposits throughout the brain, causing healthy neurons to stop functioning, lose their connections to other neurons, and eventually die.
Beyond Alzheimer's, there are various other causes of declining brain function, including other brain diseases such as Lewy body dementia and frontotemporal dementia, as well as vascular dementia — a form of dementia caused by disrupted blood flow to the brain. This disrupted blood flow can be caused by several factors, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol. Beyond disease, declining brain function can also result from other causes such as poisoning, hereditary factors, or psychological stress such as depression.
It's easy to imagine that the human brain is an extremely complex organ that carries out very important functions. As such, a disruption in brain function has a significant impact on a person's life — affecting their abilities, behavior, and personality.
As an illustration, the frontal lobe of the brain controls important cognitive abilities such as emotional regulation, thinking, personality, and decision-making. Meanwhile, the occipital lobe is responsible for visual ability, such as interpreting color, light, and movement.
Four Key Characteristics of Dementia
In explaining what dementia is, it's important to understand that every type of dementia shares the following four characteristics:
- At least two areas of brain function are affected, one of which includes memory.
- It is chronic — meaning it persists over a long period, or its symptoms continue without resolving.
- It is progressive — meaning the condition gradually worsens over time.
- It is terminal — meaning the condition ultimately ends with the person's death.
Dementia vs. Simple Forgetfulness
From the explanation above, it becomes clear that dementia is a much broader condition than simple forgetfulness. The term "forgetful" or "senile" is generally associated with a decline in memory, where a person frequently forgets things. Forgetfulness can be one indication that dementia may be developing in a person, but not everyone who is forgetful will necessarily develop dementia.
RUKUN Senior Care
Email: info@rukunseniorliving.com
Phone: 021 8795 1525
Facebook: @RUKUNSeniorCare
About RUKUN Senior Living
We believe that happiness and comfort in daily life are key to someone's quality of life. RUKUN Senior Living offers a range of residential facilities and services for seniors to support all their needs — whether they lead an independent, dynamic lifestyle or require more day-to-day support.
A variety of service options are available to suit residents' needs. For seniors living at home or with family, the following are available:
- RUKUN Senior Club, for independent seniors to take part in activities throughout the day.
- Dementia Day Program, for seniors with dementia to take part in a series of activities and social interaction aimed at optimizing their daily life. Available at Darmawan Park, Sentul, and the Dementia Support Center, Cipete.
- RUKUN Home Care, for seniors who need professional caregiver services at home (available in the greater Jakarta area).
For those wishing to reside at RUKUN Senior Living, Sentul, the Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) concept offers an integrated set of facilities and services as a solution for every phase of a senior's life:
- RUKUN Senior Living Resort, with comprehensive facilities and a range of supporting services, including an activity program, wellness monitoring, food and beverage, housekeeping and laundry, and Assisted Living services. Full amenities also include an Activity Room, Game Room, Art Room, swimming pool, jacuzzi, lake, jogging path, and gazebo.
- RUKUN Senior Care, offering more intimate facilities and services for residents who require Dementia Support and Nursing Care, including an activity program, 24-hour monitoring by wellness staff, and a doctor on staff.
www.rukunseniorliving.com
Email: info@rukunseniorliving.com
Phone: 021 8795 1525
Facebook: @RUKUNSeniorLiving
Reference:
alodokter.com
Dementia is a syndrome — a group of interrelated symptoms — that results from declining brain function. This decline can have various causes, with Alzheimer's being the most common.
Forgetfulness generally refers only to declining memory, while dementia is a much broader condition that is chronic, progressive, and terminal, and affects at least two areas of brain function. Forgetfulness can be an early indication of dementia, but not everyone who is forgetful will develop it.
Alzheimer's is the most common cause, accounting for 50–75% of all dementia cases, resulting from abnormal protein deposits in the brain that damage nerve cells.
The four key characteristics are: affecting at least two areas of brain function (including memory), being chronic, being progressive, and being terminal.
Other causes include brain diseases such as Lewy body dementia and frontotemporal dementia, vascular dementia caused by disrupted blood flow to the brain (due to factors such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol), poisoning, hereditary factors, and psychological stress such as depression.