Definition

When the doctor needs to determine if it is dementia, he will check whether the following criteria are met:

• Failing memory
• At least one of the following:
  • Impaired ability to think abstractly
  • Impaired judgment
  • Impairment of one of the brain's other functions, such as language
  • Personality changes
• No confusion (= delirium)
• Affected or changed social behavior
• One of the following:
  • A sign of at least one organic (physical) cause for the condition (such as a blood clot in the brain)
  • No psychiatric disease, such as depression

In order for it to be dementia, the memory must be failing considerably compared to previously. The doctor examines this by performing a number of memory tests where the person must perform much (significantly) worse than healthy people their age with the same educational level.

The doctor will also examine whether at least one other cognitive (intellectual) function is affected. It could, for example, be:

• Language,
• Sense of direction,
• Executive function or the ability to perform motor actions.

In these cases the doctor will emphasize whether the impairment is so great that it can be clearly observed in the tasks to be performed. And the change must be great (significant) in relation to healthy people of the same age and educational level.

The symptoms must be so pronounced that it affects their daily life.

The doctor will also ensure that the symptoms are not due to a disease other than dementia. It could, for example, be depression or what is called a state of disorientation (delirium) that may be caused by other diseases. It may occasionally be so difficult to tell the difference between dementia and depression that the doctor will wait and follow the condition over time until an accurate diagnosis can be made.