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What Is It?Dementia is a pattern of mental decline caused by different diseases or conditions. A person with dementia loses mental abilities. Memory loss usually comes first. Gradually the person becomes unable to perform basic mental and physical tasks. Typically, dementia develops slowly over months or years. The first symptoms are often subtle. Eventually, people with dementia can have significant memory loss. They also may lose their ability to communicate effectively, recognize other people, perform complex tasks or think critically. Most commonly, dementia occurs when nerve cells (neurons) in the brain break down (degenerate) and connections between neurons are interrupted. These disruptions have a variety of causes and usually cannot be reversed. Among the causes of dementia:
Other conditions that can cause dementia include:
In rare cases, dementia is caused by a treatable condition, and it may be partially or entirely reversed if the condition is diagnosed and treated early:
About 5 million people in the United States have dementia. Approximately 15% of people older than 65 are thought to have dementia. Alzheimer's disease, the most common cause of dementia, will affect more than 12 million Americans in the next 20 years.
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From Health A-Z, Harvard Health Publications. Copyright 2007 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Written permission is required to reproduce, in any manner, in whole or in part, the material contained herein. To make a reprint request, contact Harvard Health Publications. Used with permission of StayWell.
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Meatless Meals Benefit Your Health
On World Vegetarian Day, most people aren't willing to trade in their turkey for tofurkey. Luckily, you can still reap the benefits of vegetarianism by trying flexitarianism on for size.
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Beets are an underrated vegetable. They're sweet and flavorful. If you think you don't like them, try them in this recipe. Roasting brings out the beets' natural sweetness, and the feta offers a nice, salty contrast.
TIP: Buy your beets with the greens still attached--it's great way to check for freshness and the greens can be used for another recipe.
Full Recipe