In the context of memory loss, patients with dementia may experience difficulty with which cognitive function?

Patients with dementia often struggle with new learning due to impairments in their memory systems. Dementia affects the brain areas involved in forming new memories, particularly affecting short-term or working memory, making it challenging for individuals to acquire new information and skills. This difficulty in establishing new memories can be especially pronounced, as the condition typically impacts cognitive functions in a way that affects the encoding and retrieval processes required for learning.

While decision making, long-term planning, and language comprehension may also be impaired in dementia, the hallmark symptom of the condition is often the struggle to learn new material. This is closely associated with the overall decline in cognitive abilities, as the ability to learn new things relies heavily on the functioning of memory systems that are compromised in individuals with dementia.