Researchers still have not identified the root cause of dementia, however, according to the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), it is speculated to be a build-up of proteins that tamper with normal brain activities. Most forms of dementia have symptoms that deteriorate over the years because of repeated damage to neurons (nerve cells)  which is known as neurodegeneration. The risk factor for dementia increases with age, but this doesn’t mean that dementia is a normal aging process. Harvard University states, “The first symptom of dementia is memory loss". Slight memory loss is expected among the elderly, but those suffering from dementia experience memory loss at a faster pace and with a greater impact. For example, as people age they may forget where they have kept their keys, a person dealing with dementia will have forgotten how to use the keys. The National Institute of Health states, “In most cases, people suffering from dementia do realize that something is off, but are too scared to reach out for medical assistance to find out. Due to this, the person may get nervous and anxious about the symptoms as they progress".