ENGLISH
REFERENCE

dementia

n. uncountable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //dɪˈmɛnʃiə// UK //dɪmˈɛnʃɐ// de·men·tia

n. a medical condition that affects the brain and makes it hard to remember things or think clearly. It usually gets worse over time and is common in older people.

n. a chronic or persistent disorder of the mental processes caused by brain disease or injury and marked by memory disorders, personality changes, and impaired reasoning.


SIMPLE

Early signs of dementia often include forgetting names and losing track of time.

CONTEXTUAL

The family decided to hire a specialized nurse to help manage the daily challenges of their father's dementia.

COMPLEX

While dementia is frequently associated with Alzheimer's disease, it is actually a broad term covering various neurological conditions that result in significant cognitive decline.

Synonyms
Origin

Borrowed from Latin dementia.

Usage

Uncountable when referring to the general condition; occasionally countable when referring to specific clinical types (e.g., 'the various dementias').

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