[Dementia in the real world.]

More than with other diseases, the diagnosis of dementia must be made carefully, as it can have a huge impact on both the patient's social and legal status and the caregiver's own health. Special attention should be put in avoiding diagnostic errors at the time of symptom onset, because a diagnosis made explicitly can affect the patient's self-esteem. If the diagnosis is uncertain, we would recommend not performing unnecessary investigation but rather waiting to get a clearer clinical picture. Dementia, unfortunately, is reversible or partially reversible by drug therapy only in very few cases. We here describe common diagnostic challenges and doubts, and how to manage patients with known dementia in relation to changes in the environment and social interactions. Dementia strongly affects a person's well-being, including maintaining a social life and interpersonal relationships, with either the caregiver and the family.