Childhood dementia is an umbrella group of rare, mostly untreatable neurodegenerative disorders that show symptoms before the age of 18.
These conditions cause progressive deterioration of the brain and the loss of previously acquired skills such as talking, walking, and playing.
Other symptoms and complications are the loss of movement, vision, and hearing; seizures; and cardiorrespiratory, bone, and joint problems.
Childhood dementia is genetic and progressive, distinguishing it from other sources of cognitive decline like traumatic brain injury and nutrient deficiencies.
[1] Their main characteristics are chronic and widespread cognitive decline;[7][1][8][2] loss of previously acquired developmental skills after a period of development;[7][1][8][2] and behaviours and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD).
[1] The prognosis for childhood dementia is generally poor, with most children experiencing a significant decline in cognitive and motor function.
In some childhood dementia conditions the child's early development is indistinguishable from their healthy peers, then slows or plateaus before declining.
[23] Despite its significance, childhood dementia has a very limited amount of awareness in popular culture, the medical community,[9][18] and the media.