Question: What causes dementia?

Jess Wade answered on 23 Jun 2015:

Dementia describes everything to do with memory loss and troubles we have with problem solving and language. It starts as very small changes, and then becomes so big it takes over our every day life. When the brain gets disesases (like strokes, where parts of the brain shut down, or alzheimer’s disease, where proteins in the brain build up and tangle our neurons) we start to see the signs of dementia. The symptoms (scientific word for signs) vary depending on which part of the brain is attacked. Sometimes can’t remember things in the short term, or have problems organising. Some people forget languages, or how to judge distances. What is important is to be as supportive and kind to people that have it- it is likely very scary for them too.