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Updated: Feb 15, 2026
09:17
Using Retinal Imaging to Study Dementia
Published on: November 6, 2017
22.3K
Rapidly progressive dementia: An eight year (2008-2016) retrospective study
Patil Anuja1, Vishnu Venugopalan2, Naheed Darakhshan1
1Department of Neurology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Sector 12, Chandigarh, India.
Plos One
|January 19, 2018
Summary
Rapidly progressive dementia (RPD) is a neurological emergency. This study found infections and immune disorders were the most common causes of RPD in patients presenting to a tertiary care center.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neurology
- Neuroscience
- Medical Research
Background:
- Rapidly progressive dementia (RPD) is defined as cognitive impairment impacting daily activities within one year.
- RPD represents a critical condition in cognitive neurology requiring urgent investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the etiological profile of patients presenting with rapidly progressive dementia.
- To characterize the demographic and clinical features of RPD cases.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective analysis of 187 patients with RPD was conducted.
- Patients were categorized into three groups: reversible secondary dementia, prion dementia, and non-prion neurodegenerative/vascular dementias.
- Exclusion criteria included delirium from metabolic, drug-induced, or septic causes, and signs of meningitis.
Main Results:
- Secondary reversible causes were the most frequent etiology of RPD.
- Infections constituted the most common cause (39%), with Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) being the leading infectious agent.
- Immune-mediated dementias and neurodegenerative disorders were the second and third most common causes, respectively.
Conclusions:
- RPD necessitates diligent evaluation for potentially treatable or reversible causes.
- Infections and immune-mediated conditions are significant contributors to RPD, often presenting with earlier onset.
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