Premature death of large quantities of brain cells is what characterizes Dementia. Dementia is a progressive and degenerative disease that causes the patient to experience memory loss and disorientation due to the loss of nerve cells in the brain. This disease will progress over many years. Seventy-five percent of todays elderly age 65 or older are estimated to experience symptoms of this debilitating disease. Generally, dementia will not present itself before the age of 60.

As of today, there is no known cause for dementia. However, there are several theories including prolonged exposure to copper and aluminum present in food, cookware, antacids and antiperspirants. In addition, it has also been discovered that vitamin deficiencies including B12, zinc, potassium, selenium and boron was present in most dementia patients. Furthermore, it was also discovered that genetics, environmental and pharmaceutical toxins, autoimmune factors, brain injury/trauma, cholinergic nerve destruction due to excitatory amino acids, gluten sensitivity or allergy to wheat, hypothyroidism, elevated homocysteine levels and excess cortisol from adrenals, which destroy optimal brain functioning were additional factors in the cause of dementia.

Initial symptoms of dementia include loss of memory, cognitive decline, inability to carry out common tasks of everyday living, inability for abstract thought, and impaired judgment. As the disease progresses, forgetfulness becomes severe memory loss, particularly when dealing with short-term events. Later symptoms can also include loss of personal vitality, changes in personality (to include anxiety, mood swings and apprehension), and ineffective movement. Mathematical calculations may also become difficult, indicating a decrease in intellectual ability in addition to becoming unable to find the right words. These symptoms can typically intensify at night with involuntary actions, incontinence, belligerence and violent behavior. However, some victims become more docile and withdrawn.

It is important to keep in mind that some prescription drugs can cause age-related symptoms such as described above. In addition, certain drugs can cause memory deficits or altered psychological behavior. Therefore, be sure to assess the patient thoroughly and carefully prepare nutritious meals that are high in vitamin B. It has been found that many older individuals suffer from malnutrition, which can cause a number of psychological symptoms ranging from depression to dementia. Consequently, it is vital that diet be assessed and that vitamin and mineral supplements are added to determine if nutritional depletion is the cause.

Subcortical and cortical are the two broad categories of dementia. The area of the brain that is being affected determines which category of dementia is present.

Parkinsons disease, Huntington's disease, and AIDS dementia complex are examples of subcortical dementia. These diseases affect the area of the brain below the cortex. Most often, personality changes, attention span and the slowing down of thought processing are the results of this form of the disease.

Language and memory are the areas affected by cortical dementias. They are a result of a disorder affecting the cerebral cortex which is the outer layer of the brain. The most commonly known diseases associated with this form include Alzheimer's and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Patients afflicted with these two diseases experience extreme memory impairment and the inability to recall words and understand common language, also known as aphasia. Furthermore, multi-infarct dementia can occur where both areas of the brain are affected.