Dementia

In Western medicine, dementia serves as an umbrella term for impaired cognitive function, often leading to Alzheimer's disease, a progressive neurological disorder characterized by brain atrophy and neuronal death, leading to diminished cognitive and functional independence (Alzheimer's Association, 2020, Alzheimer's & Dementia). From the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) standpoint, Alzheimer's is ascribed to a complex interplay of factors such as kidney-spleen weakness, blood stasis arising from heart Qi disruption, and phlegm stagnation linked to lung damage and spleen weakening (Xue et al., 2012, Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine). Both paradigms offer distinct perspectives on the underlying mechanisms and potential therapeutic approaches for this complex neurodegenerative disorder.