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[Reversible dementias, do they exist?]
M L Moralejo Alonso1, A Fuertes Martín
1Servicio de Medicina Interna II, Hospital Universitario, Salamanca. lmoralejo@yahoo.es
Anales De Medicina Interna (Madrid, Spain : 1984)
|January 5, 2005
Summary
The prevalence of dementia in older adults is high, but potentially reversible dementias are less common than previously thought, affecting only 1.5-3% of patients.
Area of Science:
- Geriatrics
- Neurology
- Internal Medicine
Context:
- Increasing life expectancy leads to a higher prevalence of dementia in internal medicine, particularly in patients over 80.
- Existing literature reports a wide incidence range (10-30%) for potentially reversible dementias.
Purpose:
- To determine the actual incidence of potentially reversible dementias in internal medicine patients.
- To identify the optimal diagnostic protocol for efficient resource allocation.
Summary:
- Bibliographical review indicates that the actual incidence of potentially reversible dementias is lower than previously reported, estimated at 1.5-3%.
- This finding suggests a need to re-evaluate diagnostic approaches and resource allocation for dementia care in internal medicine.
Impact:
- Provides a more accurate estimate of potentially reversible dementia incidence, aiding in clinical practice and resource management.
- Highlights the importance of refining diagnostic strategies to effectively manage dementia in an aging population.