Senility
Senility
Senility (/sɪˈnɪlɪti/), also known as senile dementia, is a broad term that describes the mental and physical deterioration associated with old age. The term is derived from the Latin word "senex", meaning "old man" or "old age".
Definition
Senility is a state of progressive mental decline often observed in the elderly, characterized by forgetfulness, difficulty in thinking and understanding, and changes in personality. It is often associated with diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia.
Symptoms
Symptoms of senility can vary widely, but often include memory loss, confusion, difficulty in performing familiar tasks, and changes in mood or behavior. Other symptoms may include problems with language, decreased judgment ability, and disorientation in time and place.
Causes
Senility is typically caused by the natural aging process, but can also be triggered by certain medical conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, or Parkinson's disease. Other potential causes include stroke, brain tumors, or chronic alcoholism.
Treatment
While there is no cure for senility, treatments are available to help manage symptoms. These may include medications, cognitive therapy, and lifestyle changes such as a healthy diet and regular exercise. In some cases, treatment may also involve addressing underlying medical conditions that may be contributing to the senility.
Related Terms
- Dementia: A general term for loss of memory, language, problem-solving and other thinking abilities that are severe enough to interfere with daily life.
- Alzheimer's disease: A progressive disease that destroys memory and other important mental functions.
- Vascular dementia: A general term describing problems with reasoning, planning, judgment, memory and other thought processes caused by brain damage from impaired blood flow to your brain.
- Parkinson's disease: A neurodegenerative disorder that affects predominately dopamine-producing neurons in a specific area of the brain.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Senility
- Wikipedia's article - Senility
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski