dementia
Last updatedWhat to know
Dementia is a medical diagnosis describing a loss of cognitive functioning that impacts an individual’s daily well-being. Commonly associated with older individuals, the term is often used as a catchall for perceived (real or not) mental decline in older individuals. The term dementia should be used when referring to the actual diagnosis and only when relevant to the story, not as a euphemism or alternative to other kinds of mental decline, such as memory loss. When deciding whether to mention a specific diagnosis, there are several things to consider. Is it pertinent to your story? Is it a formal diagnosis you’ve verified?
Terminology such as “senile” or “sundowning” is outdated and may be inaccurate, and is generally best avoided outside of direct quotes. The latter term, more accurately rendered as “sundown syndrome,” should only be used within the context of the actual syndrome (that is, “emergence or increment of neuropsychiatric symptoms … in the late afternoon, evening or at night”).
Additional resources
- What Is Dementia? Symptoms, Types, and Diagnosis (National Institute on Aging)
- Age (American Psychological Association)
Summary
A medical term describing a loss of cognitive functioning that impacts an individual’s daily well-being. The term dementia should be used when referring to the actual diagnosis and only when relevant to the story, not as a euphemism or alternative to other kinds of mental decline, such as memory loss.