6/28/2004
desjardins/honig COGNITION
87
Definition of Dementia
• Dementia refers to an acquired persistent loss
of intellectual functions due to a brain disorder.
•Dementia
is really a broad, umbrella term.
–A
medical diagnosis is required to determine the underlying cause or
causes of symptoms.
–In the past, terms like “senility” and “hardening of
the arteries” were commonly used.