Healthcare providers may misdiagnose the condition. Symptoms can be subtle at first. However, as more brain cells die, more brain functions are lost, and symptoms become more severe. Short-term memory, or memory of recent events, is particularly affected in individuals with dementia. Dementia is always caused by an underlying disease or condition.
Brain tissue is damaged, and functioning is diminished.
The most common cause of dementia is Alzheimer's disease , a progressive brain disorder causing deterioration in memory and thought processes. In some of these cases, dementia can be reversed by removing the toxic agent or bringing vitamin levels back to normal. Most cases of dementia are caused by Alzheimer's disease . Although there are no proven methods to prevent Alzheimer's disease, recent research findings provide some options that may slow the onset of the disease or the progression of symptoms. In the Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study, a dose of 1,000 IU of vitamin E and 5 mg of selignine twice daily delayed nursing home placement, loss of the ability to perform self-care, and severe dementia .