Dementia as an existential threat: the importance of self-esteem, social connectedness and meaning in life

摘要

Dementia is an umbrella term for a large number of illnesses, all of which involve neurodegenerative changes in the brain. The most common forms of dementia are Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia, but there are over 100 other, rarer conditions. All of these different illnesses involve a progressive decline of cognitive functions in which symptoms gradually spread，so that eventually almost all areas of cognitive functioning are affected. Over time, these cognitive changes compromise the person's practical ability to manage everyday activities, leading to increasing levels of dependency on those around them. At present there is no cure for any form of dementia.