A rational approach to dementia. 1979

A H Ropper

Dementia is a common problem facing all medical practitioners and it frequently results in hospitalization and death. This review provides a framework for dealing with dementia in clinical practice that is based on both traditional concepts and recent advances in the understanding of the problem. Distinguishing at the bedside between dementia and other disorders of intellect is emphasized. The main causes of dementia and their clinical characteristics are reviewed and a rational approach to definitive diagnosis is developed. Simple, effective symptomatic forms of therapy are described.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007562 Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome A rare transmissible encephalopathy most prevalent between the ages of 50 and 70 years. Affected individuals may present with sleep disturbances, personality changes, ATAXIA; APHASIA, visual loss, weakness, muscle atrophy, MYOCLONUS, progressive dementia, and death within one year of disease onset. A familial form exhibiting autosomal dominant inheritance and a new variant CJD (potentially associated with ENCEPHALOPATHY, BOVINE SPONGIFORM) have been described. Pathological features include prominent cerebellar and cerebral cortical spongiform degeneration and the presence of PRIONS. (From N Engl J Med, 1998 Dec 31;339(27)) New Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease,Spongiform Encephalopathy, Subacute,CJD (Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease),Creutzfeldt Jacob Disease,Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease,Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, Familial,Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, New Variant,Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, Variant,Familial Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease,Jakob-Creutzfeldt Disease,Jakob-Creutzfeldt Syndrome,V-CJD (Variant-Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease),Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease,CJD (Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease),Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease,Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease, Familial,Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease, New Variant,Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease, Variant,Creutzfeldt Jakob Syndrome,Creutzfeldt-Jakob Diseases, Familial,Disease, Creutzfeldt Jacob,Disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob,Disease, Familial Creutzfeldt-Jakob,Disease, Jakob-Creutzfeldt,Encephalopathies, Subacute Spongiform,Encephalopathy, Subacute Spongiform,Familial Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease,Familial Creutzfeldt-Jakob Diseases,Jacob Disease, Creutzfeldt,Jakob Creutzfeldt Disease,Jakob Creutzfeldt Syndrome,New Variant Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease,Spongiform Encephalopathies, Subacute,Subacute Spongiform Encephalopathies,Subacute Spongiform Encephalopathy,Syndrome, Creutzfeldt-Jakob,Syndrome, Jakob-Creutzfeldt,V CJD (Variant Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease),Variant Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease
D007806 Language Disorders Conditions characterized by deficiencies of comprehension or expression of written and spoken forms of language. These include acquired and developmental disorders. Acquired Language Disorders,Language Disorders, Acquired,Acquired Language Disorder,Language Disorder,Language Disorder, Acquired
D009069 Movement Disorders Syndromes which feature DYSKINESIAS as a cardinal manifestation of the disease process. Included in this category are degenerative, hereditary, post-infectious, medication-induced, post-inflammatory, and post-traumatic conditions. Dyskinesia Syndromes,Etat Marbre,Status Marmoratus,Movement Disorder Syndromes,Dyskinesia Syndrome,Movement Disorder,Movement Disorder Syndrome
D009494 Neurosyphilis Infections of the central nervous system caused by TREPONEMA PALLIDUM which present with a variety of clinical syndromes. The initial phase of infection usually causes a mild or asymptomatic meningeal reaction. The meningovascular form may present acutely as BRAIN INFARCTION. The infection may also remain subclinical for several years. Late syndromes include general paresis; TABES DORSALIS; meningeal syphilis; syphilitic OPTIC ATROPHY; and spinal syphilis. General paresis is characterized by progressive DEMENTIA; DYSARTHRIA; TREMOR; MYOCLONUS; SEIZURES; and Argyll-Robertson pupils. (Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp722-8) General Paresis,Juvenile Paresis,Paretic Neurosyphilis,Syphilis, Central Nervous System,Central Nervous System Syphilis,General Paralysis,General Paralysis of the Insane,General Paresis of the Insane,Neurosyphilis, Asymptomatic,Neurosyphilis, Gummatous,Neurosyphilis, Juvenile,Neurosyphilis, Secondary,Neurosyphilis, Symptomatic,Paralysis, General,Secondary Neurosyphilis,Syphilis, CNS
D011605 Psychoses, Substance-Induced Psychotic organic mental disorders resulting from the toxic effect of drugs and chemicals or other harmful substance. Psychoses, Drug,Psychoses, Toxic,Substance-Induced Psychoses,Toxic Psychoses,Drug Psychoses,Psychoses, Substance Induced,Substance Induced Psychoses
D011877 Radionuclide Imaging The production of an image obtained by cameras that detect the radioactive emissions of an injected radionuclide as it has distributed differentially throughout tissues in the body. The image obtained from a moving detector is called a scan, while the image obtained from a stationary camera device is called a scintiphotograph. Gamma Camera Imaging,Radioisotope Scanning,Scanning, Radioisotope,Scintigraphy,Scintiphotography,Imaging, Gamma Camera,Imaging, Radionuclide
D012021 Reflex, Abnormal An abnormal response to a stimulus applied to the sensory components of the nervous system. This may take the form of increased, decreased, or absent reflexes. Hyperreflexia,Hyporeflexia,Abnormal Deep Tendon Reflex,Abnormal Reflex,Abnormal Reflexes,Bulbocavernosus Reflex, Decreased,Bulbocavernousus Reflex Absent,Hoffman's Reflex,Palmo-Mental Reflex,Reflex, Absent,Reflex, Acoustic, Abnormal,Reflex, Anal, Absent,Reflex, Anal, Decreased,Reflex, Ankle, Abnormal,Reflex, Ankle, Absent,Reflex, Ankle, Decreased,Reflex, Biceps, Abnormal,Reflex, Biceps, Absent,Reflex, Biceps, Decreased,Reflex, Corneal, Absent,Reflex, Corneal, Decreased,Reflex, Decreased,Reflex, Deep Tendon, Abnormal,Reflex, Deep Tendon, Absent,Reflex, Gag, Absent,Reflex, Gag, Decreased,Reflex, Knee, Abnormal,Reflex, Knee, Decreased,Reflex, Moro, Asymmetric,Reflex, Pendular,Reflex, Triceps, Abnormal,Reflex, Triceps, Absent,Reflex, Triceps, Decreased,Reflexes, Abnormal,Absent Reflex,Decreased Bulbocavernosus Reflex,Decreased Reflex,Palmo Mental Reflex,Pendular Reflex,Reflex Absent, Bulbocavernousus,Reflex, Decreased Bulbocavernosus,Reflex, Hoffman's,Reflex, Palmo-Mental
D001928 Brain Diseases, Metabolic Acquired or inborn metabolic diseases that produce brain dysfunction or damage. These include primary (i.e., disorders intrinsic to the brain) and secondary (i.e., extracranial) metabolic conditions that adversely affect cerebral function. Central Nervous System Metabolic Disorders,Encephalopathies, Metabolic,Metabolic Disorders, Brain,Acquired Metabolic Diseases, Brain,Acquired Metabolic Diseases, Nervous System,Acquired Metabolic Encephalopathies,Brain Diseases, Metabolic, Acquired,Brain Disorders, Metabolic,Brain Disorders, Metabolic, Acquired,Brain Syndrome, Metabolic,Brain Syndrome, Metabolic, Acquired,CNS Metabolic Disorders,CNS Metabolic Disorders, Acquired,Encephalopathy, Metabolic, Acquired,Metabolic Brain Diseases,Metabolic Brain Diseases, Acquired,Metabolic Brain Syndrome,Metabolic Brain Syndrome, Acquired,Metabolic Brain Syndromes,Metabolic Brain Syndromes, Acquired,Metabolic Diseases, Acquired, Nervous System,Metabolic Disorder, Central Nervous System, Acquired,Metabolic Disorders, CNS,Metabolic Disorders, CNS, Acquired,Metabolic Disorders, Central Nervous System,Metabolic Encephalopathies,Nervous System Acquired Metabolic Diseases,Acquired Metabolic Encephalopathy,Brain Disease, Metabolic,Brain Disorder, Metabolic,Brain Metabolic Disorder,Brain Metabolic Disorders,CNS Metabolic Disorder,Encephalopathies, Acquired Metabolic,Encephalopathy, Acquired Metabolic,Encephalopathy, Metabolic,Metabolic Brain Disease,Metabolic Brain Disorder,Metabolic Brain Disorders,Metabolic Disorder, Brain,Metabolic Disorder, CNS,Metabolic Encephalopathies, Acquired,Metabolic Encephalopathy,Metabolic Encephalopathy, Acquired
D001932 Brain Neoplasms Neoplasms of the intracranial components of the central nervous system, including the cerebral hemispheres, basal ganglia, hypothalamus, thalamus, brain stem, and cerebellum. Brain neoplasms are subdivided into primary (originating from brain tissue) and secondary (i.e., metastatic) forms. Primary neoplasms are subdivided into benign and malignant forms. In general, brain tumors may also be classified by age of onset, histologic type, or presenting location in the brain. Brain Cancer,Brain Metastases,Brain Tumors,Cancer of Brain,Malignant Primary Brain Tumors,Neoplasms, Intracranial,Benign Neoplasms, Brain,Brain Neoplasm, Primary,Brain Neoplasms, Benign,Brain Neoplasms, Malignant,Brain Neoplasms, Malignant, Primary,Brain Neoplasms, Primary Malignant,Brain Tumor, Primary,Brain Tumor, Recurrent,Cancer of the Brain,Intracranial Neoplasms,Malignant Neoplasms, Brain,Malignant Primary Brain Neoplasms,Neoplasms, Brain,Neoplasms, Brain, Benign,Neoplasms, Brain, Malignant,Neoplasms, Brain, Primary,Primary Brain Neoplasms,Primary Malignant Brain Neoplasms,Primary Malignant Brain Tumors,Benign Brain Neoplasm,Benign Brain Neoplasms,Benign Neoplasm, Brain,Brain Benign Neoplasm,Brain Benign Neoplasms,Brain Cancers,Brain Malignant Neoplasm,Brain Malignant Neoplasms,Brain Metastase,Brain Neoplasm,Brain Neoplasm, Benign,Brain Neoplasm, Malignant,Brain Neoplasms, Primary,Brain Tumor,Brain Tumors, Recurrent,Cancer, Brain,Intracranial Neoplasm,Malignant Brain Neoplasm,Malignant Brain Neoplasms,Malignant Neoplasm, Brain,Neoplasm, Brain,Neoplasm, Intracranial,Primary Brain Neoplasm,Primary Brain Tumor,Primary Brain Tumors,Recurrent Brain Tumor,Recurrent Brain Tumors,Tumor, Brain
D002526 Cerebellar Diseases Diseases that affect the structure or function of the cerebellum. Cardinal manifestations of cerebellar dysfunction include dysmetria, GAIT ATAXIA, and MUSCLE HYPOTONIA. Cerebellar Dysfunction,Cerebellum Diseases,Cerebellar Disorders,Cerebellar Syndromes,Cerebellar Disease,Cerebellar Disorder,Cerebellar Dysfunctions,Cerebellar Syndrome,Cerebellum Disease,Disease, Cerebellar,Disease, Cerebellum,Disorder, Cerebellar,Dysfunction, Cerebellar,Syndrome, Cerebellar

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