2c. Causes of Dementia
In simple terms, dementia is caused because of damage to the brain’s nerve cells. As we learned in the previous lesson, the brain is made up of billions of nerve cells, called neurons. These neurons communicate with each other and allow the brain to function properly as the body’s control center.
The type of brain cell damage can vary depending on the type of dementia. We will learn more about the different types of dementia in the next lesson.
How is Dementia Caused?
Healthy neurons become damaged and stop working
These neurons lose their connection with other brain cells
The cells eventually die
When the cells in a certain region of the brain are damaged, the functions controlled in that region no longer work properly