What Is Dementia?

Last Updated: 03.07.2026  ·  Category: Neurology  ·  Prepared by the Academic Hospital Web and Editorial Board.

With aging, some changes occur in memory, thought and behavior. If these behaviors affect a person’s life, then this may point to the beginning of the "Dementia" process.

Important Information: Dementia is not a natural result of aging. If there is forgetfulness that affects daily life, behavioral change or a marked decline in thinking skills, medical evaluation is important.

What Is Dementia?

Dementia is the general name for diseases that cause forgetfulness and lead to a decline in a person’s memory, thinking, behavior and ability to perform daily activities.

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It is generally a disease that appears with age and progresses with age. It is not a natural result of aging. The most common type of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease.

What Are the Types of Dementia?

  1. Alzheimer’s Disease: It is the most common type of dementia. It is a progressive brain disease that proceeds with impairment of the brain’s cells and functions.
  2. Vascular Dementia: It occurs as a result of insufficient blood flow in the brain. It usually develops after stroke or cerebrovascular diseases.
  3. Lewy Body Dementia: There is abnormal protein accumulation (Lewy bodies) in brain cells. Symptoms include visual hallucinations, balance and movement problems, and these findings fluctuate.
  4. Frontotemporal Dementia: It results from damage occurring in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. Personality changes, language problems and behavioral disorders are common.

Stages and Symptoms of Dementia

Dementia is divided into three stages: early, middle and advanced.

1) Early-Stage Dementia

Usually, mild forgetfulness and difficulties in finding words begin. The person may have difficulty finding the right word in daily conversations or may forget frequently used words. Questions asked and sentences formed become repetitive, and the concept of place and time begins to become confused. Difficulties in calculation are also among the important symptoms of this stage. The person may have difficulty performing simple mathematical operations and may struggle to carry out daily financial tasks such as paying bills. Losing belongings and confusing where they are located are also frequently experienced.

2) Middle-Stage Dementia

A marked increase in memory loss is observed. In this stage, the person has serious difficulty remembering events that happened in the recent past and shows more forgetfulness in daily life. The person has difficulty finding the right words while speaking and may use incorrect words.

The loss of basic care abilities draws attention in the middle stage of dementia. The person has difficulty performing basic daily activities such as personal hygiene, dressing and eating. In this period, personality changes become more pronounced, and losing the distinction between day and night is also frequently seen.

The person has difficulty remembering familiar faces and names. Communication difficulty increases in this stage.

Excessive irritability, aimless wandering and seeing things that are not there are also among the symptoms of the middle stage of dementia. The person may experience outbursts of anger with no clear cause, may wander aimlessly inside or outside the home, and may experience hallucinations such as seeing or hearing things that are not real. These symptoms can seriously affect the person and the people who provide care.

3) Advanced-Stage Dementia

The advanced stage of dementia is characterized by symptoms that seriously affect the person’s daily life. In this stage, inadequate nutrition becomes a common problem. The person has difficulty eating on their own and cannot meet their nutritional needs. This situation can lead to significant weight loss and nutritional deficiency.

Urinary and fecal incontinence are also prominent symptoms of advanced-stage dementia. The person becomes unable to control their need for the toilet, and this causes hygiene problems and an increased need for care. Loss of movement ability and being bedridden are also frequently seen in this stage.

Stage Prominent Symptoms
Early stage Mild forgetfulness, difficulty finding words, repetitions, difficulty with calculations
Middle stage Marked memory loss, difficulty with personal care, communication difficulty, behavioral changes
Advanced stage Nutrition problems, urinary and fecal incontinence, loss of movement, being bedridden

At What Age Does Dementia Occur?

Dementia is generally seen more often in individuals aged 65 and over. However, cases of early-onset dementia (starting before the age of 65) also exist. Early-onset dementia is usually associated with genetic factors and is seen more rarely.

Is There a Treatment for Dementia?

Although there is no definitive treatment for dementia, some measures that can be taken at a young age may reduce the risk of developing the disease or slow the progression of symptoms.

What Should Be Done at a Young Age to Take Precautions?

Measures taken at a young age play an important role in reducing the risk of dementia and protecting brain health.

Healthy nutrition plays an important role in protecting brain health. Diets rich in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids, such as the Mediterranean diet, support brain functions. In particular, foods such as green leafy vegetables, fish, nuts and olive oil have a positive effect on brain health.

Regular physical activity increases blood flow to the brain and creates positive effects on overall health. Activities such as walking, swimming, yoga and dancing support both physical and mental health.

Mentally stimulating activities are also effective in reducing the risk of dementia. Activities such as solving Sudoku, reading books, learning a new language or playing a musical instrument protect brain health and improve cognitive functions.

Avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption creates positive effects on brain health.

Regular health checks are critically important for the early detection and control of health problems that increase the risk of dementia. Managing conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol is effective in reducing the risk of dementia.

Adequate and quality sleep is very important for brain health. Establishing a regular sleep pattern and improving sleep quality protect brain functions and reduce the risk of dementia.

Processes related to forgetfulness should be evaluated in detail by a doctor, and the necessary procedures, tests, evaluations and treatments should be carried out without too much delay.

When Should You Consult a Neurology Specialist?

If forgetfulness affects a person’s work, social life, family relationships or daily tasks, it should be evaluated by a neurology specialist. If there is frequent repetition of the same questions, getting lost, marked difficulty finding words, personality change or disruption in personal care, consultation should not be postponed.

Attention:

  • Sudden confusion, speech disorder, weakness or loss of balance may require urgent evaluation.
  • Dementia findings may progress slowly; however, forgetfulness that affects daily life should not be dismissed as normal aging.

Do Not Postpone Forgetfulness and Dementia-Related Complaints

You can book an appointment with Academic Hospital Neurology specialists for a personal evaluation and follow-up plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is dementia a natural result of aging?
No. Dementia is generally seen more often with age; however, it is not a natural result of aging. If memory, thinking, behavior and daily living activities are significantly affected, medical evaluation is necessary.
Are dementia and Alzheimer’s disease the same thing?
Dementia is the general name for diseases that cause forgetfulness. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia.
What are the early symptoms of dementia?
Mild forgetfulness, difficulty finding words, repeating the same questions, confusion about place and time, difficulty with calculations and losing belongings may be seen in the early stage.
Is there a definitive treatment for dementia?
Although there is no definitive treatment for dementia, some measures can reduce the risk of developing the disease or slow the progression of symptoms. Treatment and follow-up should be planned by a physician according to the person’s condition.
When should forgetfulness be evaluated by a doctor?
If forgetfulness affects daily life, if the person frequently repeats themselves, or if they have difficulty with orientation, calculations, communication or personal care, a neurology evaluation should not be delayed.
What can be done to reduce the risk of dementia?
Healthy nutrition, regular physical activity, mentally stimulating activities, avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol, quality sleep and regular health checks can support brain health.
Academic Hospital note: For forgetfulness, behavioral change and suspected dementia, you can book an appointment to receive an evaluation from our neurology specialists.

References

The general information in this article about the definition, symptoms, types, age relationship and preventive measures of dementia is supported by the following authoritative health sources.

  1. World Health Organization, "Dementia", who.int
  2. National Institute on Aging, "What Is Dementia? Symptoms, Types, and Diagnosis", nia.nih.gov
  3. NHS, "Dementia", nhs.uk
  4. Alzheimer's Association, "What is Dementia?", alz.org