Dementia: Genuine and Nominal In 2012, 35.6 million people were diagnosed with dementia, a large portion of whom were older adults (“Dementia,” n.d.). This population was subsequently used as a scapegoat and labeled by society as “crazy”. However, the terms “dementia” and “madness” are typically misused by the majority of the human population. Few have in-depth knowledge of their clinical definitions and the symptoms they present. Victims of dementia are afflicted with disorders that prevent their brains from functioning properly, a condition that most people have a superficial understanding of. As stated previously, not many people truly understand the nature of dementia. People typically apply the term to describe those who come up with ideas that fall outside the social norm. But, instead, it is officially used to describe a number of disorders associated with a decline in memory or that prevent a person from completing daily tasks, such as communicating, thinking rationally, concentrating, and seeing. At least two of the above skills must be severely impaired before a person can be diagnosed with dementia (“What is Dementia?”, n.d.). Dementia is caused when a person's brain cells are damaged. Within the brain there are several regions, each controlling different functions, including those previously mentioned. When cells in a region are damaged, that part of the brain is unable to function properly. For example, when cells in the region responsible for movement are damaged, paralysis can occur. Most changes in the brain that cause dementia are permanent; however some symptoms such as irrational thinking and memory loss can be improved once problems such as depression and excessive alcohol use are addressed. (n.d.). WHO. Retrieved November 12, 2013, from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs362/en/Dossey, L. (2012). When opinions differ: impasses, parallel universes and moral madness. EXPLORE: The Journal of Science and Healing, 8(1), 1-5. Retrieved October 28, 2013, from ScienceDirect database. Lau, L., & Brodney, M. A. (2008). AD symptoms and neurodegeneration. Alzheimer's disease (page 3). Berlin: Springer. folly. (n.d.). Merriam Webster. Retrieved November 12, 2013, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/madnessRhead, J.C. (2012). Moral madness. EXPLORE: The Journal of Science and Healing, 8(1), 1-5. Retrieved October 13, 1928, from the ScienceDirect database. What is dementia?. (n.d.). Dementia: signs, symptoms, causes, tests, treatment, cure. Retrieved November 12, 2013, from http://www.alz.org/what-is-demenza.asp