Int J Psychiatry Med. 2016;51(2):171-81. doi: 10.1177/0091217416636579. Epub 2016 Mar 03.

Dementia: A complex disease with multiple etiologies and multiple treatments.

International journal of psychiatry in medicine

Travis J Fisher, Ann C Schwartz, Heather N Greenspan, Thomas W Heinrich

PMID: 26941207 DOI: 10.1177/0091217416636579

Abstract

As the population of the United States ages, the rates of dementia are also likely to increase. Clinicians will, therefore, likely be asked to evaluate and treat an escalating number of patients experiencing a decline in multiple domains of cognitive function, which is the hallmark of neurocognitive disorders. It is also probable that clinicians will be confronted with management dilemmas related to the myriad of psychological and behavioral problems that often occur as a consequence of the neurocognitive impairment. In fact, these behavioral and psychological issues might be the initial symptoms that lead the patient to present to the clinician. Dementia has multiple potential etiologies, and a careful diagnostic assessment is imperative to best characterize the specific type of dementia impacting the patient. This is important, as knowing the type of dementia helps the clinician choose the most effective treatment. Potential treatments should be interdisciplinary in scope, patient/family-centered, and may include both nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic treatments.

© The Author(s) 2016.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; Dementia; Lewy body dementia; acetylcholinesterase inhibitors; antipsychotics; frontotemporal dementia

MeSH terms

• Dementia / diagnosis
• Dementia / etiology
• Dementia / therapy
• Humans

Publication Types

• Journal Article
• Review