Others catalog this memory. Still others retrieve it. This is similar to the workings of a computer. If an area of the brain in charge of these special functions is damaged, dementia may occur. Damage may be caused by infection, loss of blood supply, chemicals, or a genetic tendency for losing neurons.
People normally lose a certain number of brain cells as they age.
However, major losses cause progressive and widespread loss of normal brain function. In normal aging, memory loss is usually slow. It may involve forgetting names, phone numbers, or the location of a recently placed item. Intelligence and problem-solving skills are not affected. True dementia involves loss of intelligence and problem-solving skills.