Senility Senility is a disease commonly referred to as dementia. It affects 4 million Americans every year and is a major cause of disability in old age (Bunch, 1997, p. 106). Its prevalence increases with age (Bunch, 1997, p. 106). Dementia is characterized by a permanent memory deficit affecting recent memory in particular and of sufficient severity to interfere with the patient's ability to take part in professional and social activities (Bunch, 1997, p. 106). Although the aging process is associated with a gradual loss of brain cells, dementia is not part of the aging process (Horton and Smart, 1984, p. 320). It also is not synonymous with benign senescent forgetfulness, which is ve