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What Is Dementia?

Question: What is dementia?

Samuel Gandy, M.D., Ph.D., Mount Sinai Medical Center

Answer: Dementia is a general term describing the loss of the ability to think. Another word for thinking is mentating or mentation. So the loss of the ability to think is known as dementia.

More Expert Answers From The OnCall+ Alzheimer's Center

It's a general term. There are specific diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, that can cause dementia.

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