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Clinical classification of dementias
1Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Section of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Göteborg University, Mölndal Hospital, S-431 80 Mölndal, Sweden.
Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics
|July 1, 1995
Summary
Diagnosing dementia involves assessing symptoms, severity, and cause, with Alzheimer's being a key type. Early identification of brain disorders, termed dysmentia, is crucial before dementia advances.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Geriatrics
- Pathology
Background:
- Dementia diagnosis requires evaluating symptomatology, severity, and disease progression.
- Memory disturbances are a key diagnostic criterion for dementia disorders.
- Ante-mortem classification relies on known or assumed etiology, with post-mortem diagnosis as the final step.
Purpose of the Study:
- To outline the diagnostic steps for dementia disorders.
- To differentiate between various dementia classifications, including Alzheimer-type dementia and vascular dementia.
- To introduce the concept of 'dysmentia' for early-stage brain disorders.
Main Methods:
- Clinical assessment of symptomatology, severity, and disease course.
- Etiological classification for ante-mortem diagnosis.
- Distinguishing between Alzheimer-type dementia and vascular dementia subtypes.
Main Results:
- Alzheimer-type dementia is the most significant primary dementia group, with potential subgroups.
- Vascular dementia is a broader concept than multi-infarct dementia (MID), and also has subgroups.
- Dementia represents an advanced stage of underlying brain disorders.
Conclusions:
- Accurate dementia diagnosis integrates clinical and etiological factors.
- Subclassification of both Alzheimer-type and vascular dementias is supported by accumulating data.
- Identifying brain disorders before they progress to dementia, termed dysmentia, is important for timely intervention.