
08/30/2025
What is dementia?
Dementia is a broad term used to describe a group of conditions characterized by symptoms such as difficulties with memory, language, problem-solving, and other brain functions that affect a person’s ability to perform everyday tasks and activities. Dementia is often explained as an umbrella term, with a group of conditions falling underneath the umbrella. Underneath the dementia umbrella are hundreds of types of dementia, including the most common, Alzheimer’s disease (60-80% of cases), and others like vascular dementia (5-10%), Lewy Body dementia (5-10%), and frontotemporal dementia (FTD; 5-10%). Adults with dementia can show signs of multiple dementias, called mixed pathologies, or mixed dementia. Most dementias are progressive, and the greatest known risk factor is age. Although age is the greatest risk factor, dementia is not a normal part of aging.