Hello? Does Anyone Go On Here?

[struggling]

Can someone explain dementia to me? Anyone? Anyone?

[auntjudyg]

Hi struggling,

Can't answer your question, I'm afraid. I'm wondering myself whether there are any differences to dementia, senility, Alzheimer's. My mother's mind was never her strong point, but she really has been losing it lately, though she has not yet been "diagnosed" with anything.

Referring to your earlier post, though, I'm sorry that the news is not very good. From my experience with relatives and friends' parents, once the mind starts to go, it does not come back; it just gets worse.

Read the post "How serious is serious?" Someone there suggests a book on the topic.

[Mace]

Dear Struggling,

Webster's Collegiate Dictionary defines Dementia as: "a condition of deteriorated mentality often with emotional apathy".

That would make Alzheimers one of the causes of dementia but not the only form of dementia. Strokes, tumors, lack of a good blood supply to the brain are some of the other causes.

Some forms of dementia are reversible but to my limited knowledge Alzheimer's has never been reversed and that's what make it such a terrible disease.

Good Luck, God Bless, Mace