Dementia is a term used to describe the gradual decline of a person's memory, logic and behavior. Dementia occurs primarily after 65 years, and in rare cases at the age of 40. The fact that it occurs over the years does not mean that it is a normal development of old age.

 The diagnosis of dementia is done by the doctor, who directs the individual if necessary, to support services and gives the appropriate medication.

The first symptoms are mild, perhaps subtle. This means that sometimes they are not perceived by the family environment, as the person can normally follow a discussion. The patient may find it difficult to remember the right word when he wants to talk, or forgets if he has placed an object somewhere.

The patient may be confused as he easily loses his or her orientation, fails to easily make financial transactions, is not aware of recent events and can not keep up his daily rutine.

People at a later stage are unable to retrieve information from their personal life and get regularly disoriented.

When there is severe dementia, the person has a very general picture. Occasionally they remember the names of close relatives, events of their lives, they do not know their environment, the age and the chronology. They show movement problems, they do not complete an act they have started because they forget it, they have incontinence and sleep disturbances. They rarely forget their name and can distinguish known from unknown faces. In the case of very severe dementia, there is hardly any speaking, but only mournfully and there is a basic loss of movement skills.

There are many forms of dementia, with different origins and causes. There is currently no way of preventing and drugs for some forms can simply reduce symptoms. It is very important for a person suffering from dementia to have his or her family and friends close to him, as the daily care of the individual is vital.