word
Dementia
deh-MEN-shah
/dɪˈmɛnʃə/Listen
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Syllable breakdown
dementia
Dictionary meaning
A broad clinical syndrome characterised by a progressive decline in two or more cognitive domains — including memory, language, executive function, visuospatial abilities, and personality — severe enough to interfere with daily life; dementia is not a single disease but an umbrella term encompassing Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia, among others.
Examples
- She was diagnosed with early-stage dementia after her family noticed repeated memory lapses and difficulty with familiar tasks.
- Dementia affects approximately 55 million people worldwide, making it one of the greatest global public health challenges.
Synonyms: cognitive decline, neurocognitive disorder, senility (outdated)
Common mispronunciations
'Dementia' is not the same as normal age-related memory loss; it refers to pathological, progressive cognitive decline
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