Definition

Noun: A form of dementia characterized by progressive cognitive decline, memory loss, and impaired reasoning, with symptom onset occurring before the age of 65. It is not a single disease but a category for several conditions, most notably early-onset Alzheimer's disease.

Usage

The term is used in medical and clinical contexts to classify and describe dementia cases based on the age of onset, distinguishing them from the more common senile dementia of old age. - The neurologist diagnosed the 58-year-old patient with presenile dementia. - Research into presenile dementia focuses on genetic factors and early intervention strategies.

Advanced Usage

• Clinical Diagnosis: The diagnosis of "presenile dementia" often involves ruling out other causes of cognitive impairment in younger adults, such as vascular issues or metabolic disorders.
• Differential Diagnosis: It is a broad category; specifying the underlying cause (e.g., "early-onset Alzheimer's disease," "frontotemporal dementia") is more precise in modern clinical practice.

Variants and Related Words

• Early-onset dementia: A more contemporary and often preferred term with the same meaning as "presenile dementia."
• Senile dementia: Dementia with onset after the age of 65.
• Dementia: The general term for a group of symptoms affecting memory, thinking, and social abilities severely enough to interfere with daily functioning.

Synonyms

• Early-onset dementia
• Presentle psychosis (an older, less specific term)

Related Phrases

• Familial Alzheimer's disease: A specific, inherited form that often results in presenile dementia.
• Young-onset dementia: Another synonym increasingly used to avoid the potentially stigmatizing term "presenile."

Noun

1. dementia with onset before the age of 65