Council on Aging Answers 2015 - 37

n Alzheimer's Association - Orange County Chapter
Dementia is a general term for a decline in mental
ability severe enough to interfere with daily life. Memory loss is an example. Dementia is not a specific disease. It's an overall term that describes a wide range of
symptoms associated with a decline in memory or other
thinking skills severe enough to reduce a person's ability
to perform everyday activities.
Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of
dementia. It accounts for 60 to 80 percent of cases. Alzheimer's disease is the fourth-leading cause of death in
Orange County and the sixth nationally. It is also the
third leading cause of death in Orange County for individuals age 85+.
Vascular dementia, which occurs after a stroke, is the
second most common dementia type. There are many
other conditions that can cause symptoms of dementia,
including some that are reversible, such as thyroid problems, vitamin deficiencies, depression and infections.
Dementia is often incorrectly referred to as "senility"
or "senile dementia," which reflects the formerly widespread but incorrect belief that serious mental decline is
a normal part of aging.

Memory Loss and Other Symptoms of Dementia
Many people have memory loss issues - this does
not mean they have Alzheimer's or another dementia.
There are many different causes of memory problems.
While symptoms of dementia can vary greatly, at least
two of the following core mental functions must be significantly impaired to be considered dementia:
n Memory
n Communication and language
n Ability to focus and pay attention
n Reasoning and judgment
n Visual perception
People with dementia may have problems with shortterm memory, keeping track of a purse or wallet, paying
bills, planning and preparing meals, remembering appointments or traveling out of the neighborhood.
Many dementias are progressive, meaning symptoms begin slowly and gradually become worse. If you
or a loved one is experiencing memory difficulties or
other changes in thinking skills, don't ignore them.
See a doctor soon to determine the cause. Professional
evaluation may detect a treatable condition. And even
if symptoms suggest dementia, early diagnosis allows
a person to get the maximum benefit from available
treatments and provides an opportunity to volunteer
for clinical trials or studies. It also provides an opportunity to plan for the future.
For additional information, contact your doctor or
the Alzheimer's Association at 1800-272-3900 or visit
www.alz.org/oc

D iD YO U K N OW. . .

Lung Force

LUNG FORCE is a national movement led by the American Lung Association with a singular mission: to
unite everyone to stand together against lung cancer and for lung health.
Only a FORCE of many can stand up to these facts:
n Every 5 minutes, a woman in the U.S. is told she has lung cancer, and every 8 minutes, a woman in the
U.S. dies of the disease
n Lung cancer is the #1 cancer killer of women, surpassing breast cancer in 1987
n women are 62% more likely to have asthma than men
n Pulmonary arterial hypertension is approximately twice as common in women as men.
Learn more at www.LUNGFORCE.org . Or, contact the American Lung Association Orange County staff
member Krisztina Quick at krisztina.quick@lung.org

Council On Aging-Orange County | 714-479-0107 | www.coaoc.org

Answers Guide 2015

hEALThCARE

What Is
Dementia?

COUNCIL ON AGING - ORANGE COUNTY

http://www.alz.org/oc http://www.LUNGFORCE.org http://www.coaoc.org

Council on Aging Answers 2015

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Council on Aging Answers 2015