Senility, which is now more commonly referred to as dementia, is characterized by a decrease in cognitive abilities. This may include the person’s ability to concentrate, to recall information, and to properly judge a situation. In addition, the personality of someone with senility may change. A person in the advanced stages of senility may be unsure of who he or she is.

There are several possible causes of senility, many of which are avoidable through proper nutrition, exercise, and positive lifestyle choices. In addition, some types of senility are reversible. Unfortunately, this is only true of approximately 10% of cases.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of senility. This disease begins with difficulty learning or remembering recent events. Approximately three percent of the population develops Alzheimer’s disease by the age of 65, while 20% have it by the time they are 85. Most individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s pass away from the disease within ten years, with senility steadily getting worse as the disease progresses.

Overmedication or dehydration may also cause a person to exhibit signs of senility and lead to a false diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Major depression can also cause senility. Therefore, a person showing signs of Alzheimer’s disease should be tested to confirm diagnosis.

Brain disorders can also lead to senility. These disorders may be caused by trauma, illness, or infection. A variety of conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease, Binswanger’s disease, Pick’s disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, vascular dementia, Huntington’s disease, strokes, Down syndrome, head trauma, dementia with Lewy bodies, and AIDS, can also cause senility. In each of these cases, senility is generally not reversible.

Other diseases or illnesses that can cause senility are sometimes treatable. These include hypothyroidism, depressive pseudodementia, tumors, normal pressure hydrocephalus, and deficiencies in vitamins B1, B12, and A. Individuals who abuse drugs and alcohol are also at an increased risk of developing senility. Similarly, individuals who inhale paint or other substances in order to get high may develop senility.