I'm trying to understand a diagnosis
Dementia is a category, not a single disease. Understanding which disease is causing the symptoms matters because it affects treatment, prognosis, and what to expect.
Dementia is not one disease.
These terms describe different levels of cognitive change. Understanding where you or your loved one falls can help you know what to expect.
Subjective cognitive concerns
You notice changes, but cognitive testing doesn't show impairment. This doesn't mean nothing is happening — it means the tests didn't detect a problem.
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI)
Changes are present on testing, but daily function is preserved. MCI may or may not progress to dementia.
Dementia
Changes are significant enough to affect daily function. Dementia is a syndrome — a pattern of symptoms — not a specific disease.
The disease or condition causing it
Dementia has many possible causes: Alzheimer's, Lewy body disease, frontotemporal degeneration, vascular disease, or a combination. Identifying the cause matters for treatment and prognosis.
What diagnosis are you trying to understand?
Select a diagnosis to learn what it is, common patterns, how it's diagnosed, what testing may be used, treatment options, and what families may notice over time.