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Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Using Retinal Imaging to Study Dementia
Published on: November 6, 2017
Rapidly progressive dementia
Michael D Geschwind1, Aissa Haman, Bruce L Miller
1Department of Neurology, Memory & Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco Medical Center, San Francisco, CA 94117, USA. mgeschwind@memory.ucsf.edu
Abstract:
Rapidly progressive dementias (RPDs) are neurologic conditions that develop subacutely over weeks to months or, rarely, acutely over days. In contrast to most dementing conditions that take years to progress to death, RPD quickly can be fatal. It is critical to evaluate patients who have RPD without delay, usually in a hospital setting, as they may have a treatable condition. This review discusses a differential diagnostic approach to RPD, emphasizing neurodegenerative, toxic and metabolic, infectious, autoimmune, neoplastic, and other conditions to consider.
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