pseudodementia
1
9.9
Memory and thinking problems that look like dementia but come from another illness, often depression
- noun
- /ˌsuːdoʊdɪˈmɛnʃə/
- Specialized
:
pseudodemencia
- Doctors must distinguish between true dementia and pseudodementia to provide the appropriate treatment.
Examples
-
Many patients with depression experience symptoms that resemble pseudodementia, making diagnosis challenging.
-
In some severe depressions, a syndrome called pseudodementia is encountered.
Academic text (2002) -
Therapy can often improve cognitive function in individuals diagnosed with pseudodementia due to depression.
Antonyms
Alzheimer's disease
- Specialized
39
3.7
A brain illness in older people that gets worse over time and causes memory loss and confusion
Surface Forms
pseudodementia singular
pseudodementias plural
Morphology
Etymology
Pseudodementia begins with pseudo- meaning 'false', as in pseudonym 'a false name', and ends with dementia meaning 'memory and thinking problems'. So pseudodementia means 'false dementia', because it looks like dementia but is caused by another problem, often depression, and can improve when that problem is treated.