Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe various neurological conditions which all damage brain cells and lead to a loss of brain function.
It includes Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia and more than 100 other types. Dementia is not a normal part of ageing.
Dementia is characterised by a deterioration in memory and in a person's ability to:
Dementia may also affect a person's mood, movement, personality and behaviour.