Advances in early diagnosis and differentiation of the dementias

doi:10.1017/CBO9780511550072.014

13 - Advances in early diagnosis and differentiation of the dementias

from Part IV - Recent advances in dementia

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 19 January 2010

Siân A Thompson ,

Peter J Nestor and

John R Hodges

Edited by

Maria A. Ron and

Trevor W. Robbins

Show author details

Siân A Thompson: Affiliation:
Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK
Peter J Nestor: Affiliation:
Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK
John R Hodges: Affiliation:
Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK; MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge, UK
Maria A. Ron: Affiliation:
Institute of Neurology, London
Trevor W. Robbins: Affiliation:
University of Cambridge

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Summary

Introduction

Over the past decades the concept of dementia has evolved from one of progressive global intellectual deterioration, to a syndrome of progressive impairment in memory and at least one other cognitive deficit (aphasia, apraxia, agnosia, or disturbance in executive function) in the absence of another explanatory central nervous system disorder, depression or delirium (DSM-IV). Furthermore, within this broad definition, the delineation of particular patterns of focal cognitive deficit associated with different dementia syndromes has greatly advanced over recent years. In epidemiological terms, dementia presents a significant problem; Alzheimer's disease alone affects 15 million people worldwide at present (Evans et al. 1989), and with the current demographic trend, this number will certainly increase.

With the advent of new and potentially disease-modifying therapies, attention has been focused on the need for reliable and early markers of dementia. In pursuit of this, a major expansion in dementia research has occurred, directed towards both identifying subjects in the preclinical phase of illness and differentiating between dementia syndromes of varying aetiologies. A number of approaches have been followed, encompassing the disciplines of neuropsychology, neuropsychiatry, structural and functional neuro-imaging and neurobiology (the search for biological markers of disease).

In this chapter we will discuss some of the advances that have occurred within the specialities of neuropsychology, neuropsychiatry and neuro-imaging. A comprehensive review of this rapidly expanding field would not be possible in this brief overview of the subject. We have, therefore, concentrated on a number of key topics related to early diagnosis and differential diagnosis.

Type: Chapter
Information: Disorders of Brain and Mind , pp. 262 - 288

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511550072.014 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2003

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