Dementia: genuine and nominalIn 2012, 35.6 million people were diagnosed with dementia, a large proportion being elderly (“Dementia”, nd). This population was then considered a scapegoat and labeled “crazy” by society. However, the terms "dementia" and "insanity" are generally misused by the majority of the human population. Few people fully understand their clinical definitions and the symptoms they present. Dementia sufferers suffer from illnesses that prevent their brain from functioning properly, a condition most people have a superficial understanding of. As previously stated, few people truly understand the nature of dementia. People generally apply the term to describe those who propose ideas that do not fit the societal norm. But on the contrary, it is officially used to describe a number of diseases associated with memory decline or preventing a person from performing everyday tasks, such as communicating, thinking rationally, concentrating and seeing. At least two of the aforementioned abilities must be significantly impaired before a person can be diagnosed with dementia (“What is Dementia?”, n.d.). Dementia is caused when a person's brain cells become damaged. Several regions exist in the brain, each controlling different functions, including those mentioned previously. When cells in an area 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 brain changes that cause dementia are permanent; However, some symptoms like irrational thinking and memory loss may be improved once problems like depression and excessive drinking are addressed...... middle of article..... . Works citedDementia. (nd). WHO. Retrieved November 12, 2013 from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs362/en/Dossey, L. (2012). When opinions differ: Gridlock, 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. and Brodney, M.A. (2008). AD symptoms and neurodegeneration. Alzheimer's disease (p. 3). Berlin: Springer. madness. (nd). Merriam Webster. Retrieved November 12, 2013 from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/madnessRhead, JC (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?. (nd). Dementia – Signs, Symptoms, Causes, Tests, Treatment, Care. Accessed November 12, 2013 from http://www.alz.org/what-is-dementia.asp