• Question: What causes dementia?

    Asked by holmenat to PB, Paul, Lyn, Katy on 26 Jun 2013.
    • Photo: Peter Balfe

      Peter Balfe answered on 26 Jun 2013:

      Temporary dementia is a transient failure of normal brain activity. It can be caused by trauma, infection, drug abuse and anything that perturbs normal blood flow to the brain. Fortunately the brain is a surpisingly tough organ and recovery is usually rapid and complete.
      See my “ASK” on Alzheimers for some info on more long term dementia

    • Photo: Paul Waines

      Paul Waines answered on 26 Jun 2013:

      Dementia is a syndrome rather than a disease. This means that it has a number of possible causes and it can affect things like speech, solving problems, memory etc.

      It might be caused by a brain injury, or it might happen more gradually over time- Alzheimer’s disease is an example of this. In some unfortunate people, such as those with Creuzfeld Jakob disease, it can happen very quickly.

      So in a nutshell, there are a lot of different types and causes of dementia, and scientists are still working to fully understand the conditions which can cause it…

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