Dementia

The term dementia refers to a set of syndromes characterized by a progressive decline in cognitive ability severe enough to interfere with everyday living, including social and occupational activities. Progressively more severe memory impairment is a symptom common to most types of dementia, but it is not necessarily the primary or an early symptom. The cognitive impairments associated with dementia often result in disturbances to cognitive language and other communication functions. This entry discusses changes in the definitions and diagnostic criteria of dementia and provides an overview of the different subtypes of dementia, including their linguistic communicative presentations. In addition, a brief overview of assessment and intervention targeting communication for people with dementia is provided.