Dementia
/dɪˈmɛn.ʃə/noun
A chronic disorder of the mental processes marked by memory disorders, personality changes, and impaired reasoning.
Did you know?The term 'Dementia' derives from Latin roots meaning 'madness' or 'to be out of one's mind,' hinting at its ancient associations with the loss of reason and sanity.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
dementia
“madness, insanity, folly”
14th Century
Middle English
dementie
“loss of mental faculties, insanity”
16th Century
Modern English
dementia
“a state of being out of one's mind, often used in medical contexts”
19th Century
English
dementia
“a clinical term for chronic mental deterioration, especially in the elderly.”