In the context of dementia, what describes the term "progressive decline"?

The term "progressive decline" in the context of dementia refers to the gradual deterioration of cognitive abilities. Dementia is characterized by cognitive decline that worsens over time, impacting memory, reasoning, and other important mental functions. This gradual deterioration can affect daily living skills and the ability to engage in routine tasks, highlighting how the condition progressively affects the individual.

Improvement in cognitive function is not consistent with dementia, as it typically represents a decrease in capabilities rather than an increase. Similarly, fluctuations in cognitive performance are seen in certain types of dementia and other disorders, but the term "progressive decline" does not reflect these intermittent changes; rather, it focuses on the overall trajectory of worsening capabilities. Lastly, stagnation of cognitive abilities would indicate no change, which contradicts the concept of a decline.