PsychologyJuly 4, 2026

dementia

/dɪˈmɛn.ʃə/

Definition

A chronic or persistent disorder of the mental processes caused by brain disease or injury, marked by memory disorders, personality changes, and impaired reasoning.

Etymology

The word originates from the Latin 'dementia,' meaning 'madness' or 'senselessness,' derived from 'demens,' which combines 'de-' (away/off) and 'mens' (mind). It entered English in the 18th century as a medical term for cognitive decline.

In the news

The article lists dementia alongside obesity and diabetes as a major health condition that the Pennington Biomedical Research Center aims to understand through scientific discovery.

Dr. Logan Townsend appointed Assistant Professor at LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center

Read the full article ↗

EurekAlert!

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