What are dementia and Alzheimer's?

We hear the terms "dementia" and "Alzheimer's" quite often, and we even make jokes about having them when we can't remember where we parked our car in the parking lot or why went to the kitchen. But what are Alzheimer's and dementia really?

Dementia is defined as a significant loss of cognitive abilities caused by the death of brain cells. Dementia is a general term that can apply to any number of more specific conditions, such as Alzheimer's, which define the symptoms even further.

What's important to remember is that Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia are generally characterized by memory problems that are so severe they interfere with daily functions. Little "glitches," like temporarily spacing out your ATM pin number and forgetting where you put your car keys, don't always mean dementia and could be due to any number of other causes such as stress, lack of sleep, and medications. But if you feel you or someone close to you may have a serious problem don't hesitate to see a doctor and get a cognitive exam -- many times if caught early progress can be slowed and symptoms can be managed effectively.