Individuals with dementia often struggle with which cognitive challenge?

Individuals with dementia commonly experience significant challenges with memory retention, which is a hallmark symptom of the condition. Dementia affects various cognitive functions, but memory issues are particularly pronounced and can manifest in both short-term and long-term memory deficits. This impairment can interfere with an individual's ability to recall recent events, recognize familiar faces, or retain new information, severely impacting their daily functioning and quality of life.

While creativity, emotional regulation, and social empathy may also be affected in some forms of dementia, they are not as universally or prominently impacted as memory retention. The progressive nature of dementia leads to a decline in cognitive abilities, but memory retention directly correlates with the most recognizable and challenging symptoms associated with the disease. This makes it the most significant cognitive challenge faced by individuals with dementia.