What cognitive function is primarily affected by dementia?

Cognition is primarily affected by dementia because dementia is fundamentally a decline in cognitive abilities, which encompasses various functions including memory, reasoning, problem-solving, and judgment. Individuals with dementia experience difficulties in processing information, maintaining attention, and multitasking, which are all integral aspects of cognition. The cognitive deficits seen in dementia can manifest as memory loss, challenges in understanding or using language, and impaired decision-making, significantly impacting daily life.

While language proficiency may be a part of cognitive function and can be affected in individuals with certain types of dementia (such as Alzheimer's disease), cognition as a whole encompasses a wider range of mental processes, making it the more accurate answer to highlight the overall impact of dementia. Motor skills and sensory perception are aspects that can sometimes be altered in individuals with dementia, but they are not directly impaired by the disease itself in the same way that cognitive functions are.