Dementia is not a disease, but is a term that describes a loss of cognitive functioning, such as thinking, remembering, and reasoning, and behavioral abilities to the extent that it interferes with a person’s daily life. Many conditions cause dementia and symptoms may vary depending on the cause. However, common symptoms include memory loss, difficulty communicating, difficulty planning and organizing, difficulty with motor functions, personality changes, disorientation, paranoia, inability to reason and inappropriate behavior. A physician can diagnose dementias after taking into account medical history and performance on a number of tests such as cognitive and neuropsychological tests, brain scans, blood tests, and psychiatric evaluation. Most types of dementia cannot be cured, however medication and occupational therapy can be used to manage symptoms.