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Dementia

100 articles

Dementia is a group of conditions that affect memory, thinking, and behavior. It happens when brain cells become damaged or die, making it harder for a person to remember things, solve problems, or communicate. Dementia is not a normal part of aging, though it becomes more common as people get older. If you or someone you care for is experiencing memory loss or confusion, understanding what dementia is and how doctors identify it can help you prepare for conversations with healthcare providers and know what to expect.

The articles here explain the different types of dementia, how doctors test for and diagnose the condition, what changes to expect as it progresses, and how to support someone living with dementia. You'll also find information about treatments that may slow symptoms, ways to manage daily life, and resources for caregivers.

Dementia and Alzheimer's: What's the DifferenceLearn about Dementia and Alzheimer's: What's the DifferenceRead the article The Link Between Dementia and Insulin ResistanceLearn about The Link Between Dementia and Insulin ResistanceRead the article Can a Nurse Practitioner Diagnose DementiaLearn about Can a Nurse Practitioner Diagnose DementiaRead the article How Stroke and Dementia Are ConnectedLearn about How Stroke and Dementia Are ConnectedRead the article Can ADHD Develop Into Dementia Later in LifeLearn about Can ADHD Develop Into Dementia Later in LifeRead the article How Alcohol Use Affects Your Risk of DementiaLearn about How Alcohol Use Affects Your Risk of DementiaRead the article How Alcohol Use Disorder Damages the Brain and Increases Dementia RiskLearn about How Alcohol Use Disorder Damages the Brain and Increases Dementia RiskRead the article What an MRI Can and Cannot Show About DementiaLearn about What an MRI Can and Cannot Show About DementiaRead the article What an MRI Can and Cannot Show About DementiaLearn about What an MRI Can and Cannot Show About DementiaRead the article Whether Dementia Can Be Cured and What Treatment Can Do InsteadLearn about Whether Dementia Can Be Cured and What Treatment Can Do InsteadRead the article What Research Shows About Preventing DementiaLearn about What Research Shows About Preventing DementiaRead the article Can Dementia Be Reversed? What Research Shows About Recovery and TreatmentLearn about Can Dementia Be Reversed? What Research Shows About Recovery and TreatmentRead the article How Dementia Can Cause Hallucinations and What to Do About ThemLearn about How Dementia Can Cause Hallucinations and What to Do About ThemRead the article Can Dementia Develop Suddenly, or Does It Always Start SlowlyLearn about Can Dementia Develop Suddenly, or Does It Always Start SlowlyRead the article How Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease Are ConnectedLearn about How Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease Are ConnectedRead the article How Hearing Loss May Increase Dementia RiskLearn about How Hearing Loss May Increase Dementia RiskRead the article How Heart Blockages and Poor Blood Flow Lead to Vascular DementiaLearn about How Heart Blockages and Poor Blood Flow Lead to Vascular DementiaRead the article Does Melatonin Increase Your Risk of Dementia?Learn about Does Melatonin Increase Your Risk of Dementia?Read the article Does Metformin Increase the Risk of Dementia?Learn about Does Metformin Increase the Risk of Dementia?Read the article How Parkinson's Disease and Dementia Are ConnectedLearn about How Parkinson's Disease and Dementia Are ConnectedRead the article How Reading Affects the Brain in DementiaLearn about How Reading Affects the Brain in DementiaRead the article Can Shingrix Protect Against DementiaLearn about Can Shingrix Protect Against DementiaRead the article When Someone With Dementia Can and Cannot Sign Legal DocumentsLearn about When Someone With Dementia Can and Cannot Sign Legal DocumentsRead the article Do Statins Increase the Risk of Dementia?Learn about Do Statins Increase the Risk of Dementia?Read the article What You Can Do to Lower Your Dementia RiskLearn about What You Can Do to Lower Your Dementia RiskRead the article What Actually Reduces Your Risk of DementiaLearn about What Actually Reduces Your Risk of DementiaRead the article What an MRI Can and Cannot Show About DementiaLearn about What an MRI Can and Cannot Show About DementiaRead the article Can Young People Get Dementia? What You Need to KnowLearn about Can Young People Get Dementia? What You Need to KnowRead the article Why Dementia Patients Sleep More and What It MeansLearn about Why Dementia Patients Sleep More and What It MeansRead the article How to Tell If You Might Have Dementia — and What to Do NextLearn about How to Tell If You Might Have Dementia — and What to Do NextRead the article Does Metformin Increase Dementia Risk? What the Research Actually ShowsLearn about Does Metformin Increase Dementia Risk? What the Research Actually ShowsRead the article Whether People With Dementia Understand Their Own DiagnosisLearn about Whether People With Dementia Understand Their Own DiagnosisRead the article Which Types of Dementia Can Improve MemoryLearn about Which Types of Dementia Can Improve MemoryRead the article Do Statins Increase Your Risk of Dementia? What the Research Actually ShowsLearn about Do Statins Increase Your Risk of Dementia? What the Research Actually ShowsRead the article Can a Stroke Lead to Dementia? What the Research ShowsLearn about Can a Stroke Lead to Dementia? What the Research ShowsRead the article Does Cholesterol Medicine Increase Dementia RiskLearn about Does Cholesterol Medicine Increase Dementia RiskRead the article How a DaT Scan Can Help Doctors Identify Lewy Body DementiaLearn about How a DaT Scan Can Help Doctors Identify Lewy Body DementiaRead the article Whether Dementia Runs in Families and What That Means for YouLearn about Whether Dementia Runs in Families and What That Means for YouRead the article Can Dementia Skip a Generation in Your FamilyLearn about Can Dementia Skip a Generation in Your FamilyRead the article How Alcohol Use Affects Your Dementia RiskLearn about How Alcohol Use Affects Your Dementia RiskRead the article Can Parkinson's Disease Lead to DementiaLearn about Can Parkinson's Disease Lead to DementiaRead the article Can a Stroke Lead to Dementia? What the Research ShowsLearn about Can a Stroke Lead to Dementia? What the Research ShowsRead the article Does Tinnitus Cause Dementia? What the Research ShowsLearn about Does Tinnitus Cause Dementia? What the Research ShowsRead the article How Many People Have Dementia and What the Numbers MeanLearn about How Many People Have Dementia and What the Numbers MeanRead the article Getting Tested for Dementia: What to ExpectLearn about Getting Tested for Dementia: What to ExpectRead the article Signs You Might Have Dementia and What to Do NextLearn about Signs You Might Have Dementia and What to Do NextRead the article What Causes Dementia and Alzheimer's DiseaseLearn about What Causes Dementia and Alzheimer's DiseaseRead the article What You Can Do to Slow Dementia and Manage Its EffectsLearn about What You Can Do to Slow Dementia and Manage Its EffectsRead the article What Causes Dementia and How It DevelopsLearn about What Causes Dementia and How It DevelopsRead the article How Doctors Test for Dementia: What Happens During an EvaluationLearn about How Doctors Test for Dementia: What Happens During an EvaluationRead the article How Dementia Begins: The Brain Changes That Start the DiseaseLearn about How Dementia Begins: The Brain Changes That Start the DiseaseRead the article When Dementia Can Begin: Early-Onset and Younger AdultsLearn about When Dementia Can Begin: Early-Onset and Younger AdultsRead the article How Fast Dementia Gets Worse: What the Progression Actually Looks LikeLearn about How Fast Dementia Gets Worse: What the Progression Actually Looks LikeRead the article Why CT Scans Work Differently for People With DementiaLearn about Why CT Scans Work Differently for People With DementiaRead the article How Doctors Diagnose DementiaLearn about How Doctors Diagnose DementiaRead the article How Doctors Diagnose Lewy Body DementiaLearn about How Doctors Diagnose Lewy Body DementiaRead the article How Doctors Diagnose Vascular DementiaLearn about How Doctors Diagnose Vascular DementiaRead the article How Long People Live After a Dementia DiagnosisLearn about How Long People Live After a Dementia DiagnosisRead the article How Long Each Stage of Dementia Typically LastsLearn about How Long Each Stage of Dementia Typically LastsRead the article How Long Someone Lives With Dementia: What the Timeline Actually Looks LikeLearn about How Long Someone Lives With Dementia: What the Timeline Actually Looks LikeRead the article The Stages of Dementia: What to Expect at Each LevelLearn about The Stages of Dementia: What to Expect at Each LevelRead the article How Poor Sleep Raises Dementia Risk and What You Can Do About ItLearn about How Poor Sleep Raises Dementia Risk and What You Can Do About ItRead the article What Research Shows About Reducing Your Dementia RiskLearn about What Research Shows About Reducing Your Dementia RiskRead the article How Doctors Diagnose DementiaLearn about How Doctors Diagnose DementiaRead the article What You Can Do Now to Lower Your Risk of Alzheimer's and DementiaLearn about What You Can Do Now to Lower Your Risk of Alzheimer's and DementiaRead the article What Research Shows About Reducing Your Dementia RiskLearn about What Research Shows About Reducing Your Dementia RiskRead the article What You Can Do Now to Lower Your Dementia RiskLearn about What You Can Do Now to Lower Your Dementia RiskRead the article What You Can Do Now to Reduce Your Dementia RiskLearn about What You Can Do Now to Reduce Your Dementia RiskRead the article How To Talk To Someone With DementiaLearn about How To Talk To Someone With DementiaRead the article How Doctors Test for Dementia: What to ExpectLearn about How Doctors Test for Dementia: What to ExpectRead the article What Dementia Treatment Can and Cannot DoLearn about What Dementia Treatment Can and Cannot DoRead the article Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia: How They RelateLearn about Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia: How They RelateRead the article Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia: What's the DifferenceLearn about Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia: What's the DifferenceRead the article Aphasia and Early-Onset Dementia: What the Connection Actually IsLearn about Aphasia and Early-Onset Dementia: What the Connection Actually IsRead the article Is Dementia a Disease or a Natural Part of AgingLearn about Is Dementia a Disease or a Natural Part of AgingRead the article Is Dementia a Disorder or a Normal Part of AgingLearn about Is Dementia a Disorder or a Normal Part of AgingRead the article Why Dementia Is Not a Mental Illness—and Why the Difference MattersLearn about Why Dementia Is Not a Mental Illness—and Why the Difference MattersRead the article Can You Inherit Dementia and Alzheimer's DiseaseLearn about Can You Inherit Dementia and Alzheimer's DiseaseRead the article Can Dementia Be Cured? What Current Treatment Can and Cannot DoLearn about Can Dementia Be Cured? What Current Treatment Can and Cannot DoRead the article Whether Dementia Runs in Your Family and What That MeansLearn about Whether Dementia Runs in Your Family and What That MeansRead the article Can You Inherit Dementia? What Genetics Actually Tell UsLearn about Can You Inherit Dementia? What Genetics Actually Tell UsRead the article Can You Inherit Dementia From Your Mother or Father?Learn about Can You Inherit Dementia From Your Mother or Father?Read the article Is Dementia Type 3 Diabetes? What the Research Actually ShowsLearn about Is Dementia Type 3 Diabetes? What the Research Actually ShowsRead the article Agitation in Dementia: A Symptom, Not a Separate DiagnosisLearn about Agitation in Dementia: A Symptom, Not a Separate DiagnosisRead the article Whether Lewy Body Dementia Runs in FamiliesLearn about Whether Lewy Body Dementia Runs in FamiliesRead the article What the MTHFR Gene Mutation Means for Dementia RiskLearn about What the MTHFR Gene Mutation Means for Dementia RiskRead the article Is There a Cure for Dementia? What Current Research ShowsLearn about Is There a Cure for Dementia? What Current Research ShowsRead the article How Doctors Test for DementiaLearn about How Doctors Test for DementiaRead the article Whether Vascular Dementia Runs in Families and What That MeansLearn about Whether Vascular Dementia Runs in Families and What That MeansRead the article The Early Signs of Dementia: What Changes to NoticeLearn about The Early Signs of Dementia: What Changes to NoticeRead the article Early Warning Signs That May Point to DementiaLearn about Early Warning Signs That May Point to DementiaRead the article Early Signs of Dementia and When to See a DoctorLearn about Early Signs of Dementia and When to See a DoctorRead the article 10 Early Warning Signs That May Indicate DementiaLearn about 10 Early Warning Signs That May Indicate DementiaRead the article The Three Stages of Vascular Dementia: What to ExpectLearn about The Three Stages of Vascular Dementia: What to ExpectRead the article What Causes Dementia: The Brain Changes Behind Memory LossLearn about What Causes Dementia: The Brain Changes Behind Memory LossRead the article Early Warning Signs of Dementia: What Changes to NoticeLearn about Early Warning Signs of Dementia: What Changes to NoticeRead the article What Causes Dementia: The Brain Changes Behind Memory LossLearn about What Causes Dementia: The Brain Changes Behind Memory LossRead the article What Causes Frontotemporal Dementia and How It Differs from Other TypesLearn about What Causes Frontotemporal Dementia and How It Differs from Other TypesRead the article What Causes Lewy Body DementiaLearn about What Causes Lewy Body DementiaRead the article What Causes Vascular DementiaLearn about What Causes Vascular DementiaRead the article