seniele

Senile is an adjective describing something related to old age. In medical and clinical contexts, it has historically referred to cognitive decline associated with aging and the related noun senility. In contemporary usage, the term is often considered outdated or pejorative when applied to people; more precise terms such as dementia or age-related cognitive decline are preferred.

Normal aging may involve minor memory changes and slower processing, but significant cognitive impairment that interferes with daily life is not a normal part of aging and may indicate a disease process such as dementia or another medical condition.

Dementia is a syndrome characterized by a progressive decline in memory, language, problem solving, and other thinking skills beyond what would be expected with normal aging. The most common causes include Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia. Delirium, metabolic disorders, medications, and sensory impairment can contribute to or mimic dementia.

Diagnosis typically involves medical history, cognitive testing, physical examination, laboratory tests, and brain imaging to determine the cause and rule out reversible conditions. Management is multidisciplinary and individualized, focusing on treating underlying diseases, risk-factor control, cognitive and physical therapies, safety planning, and support for caregivers. Some dementias may be treated with medications such as cholinesterase inhibitors or NMDA receptor antagonists, but there is no cure for most causes of dementia. The aim is to maintain function and quality of life as long as possible.

Etymology: from Latin senilis, meaning “of old age.” In modern medical language, the term senile is largely supplanted by terminology that specifies aging-related cognitive decline or dementia.