Understanding senile dementia: a challenge for the future

The causes of dementia in later life are reviewed. Special attention is paid to senile dementia of the Alzheimer's type, its prevelance, the characteristic structural changes in the brains of persons suffering from this disorder, and the hypothesized causes of the disease. The hypothesis that Alzheimer's disease represents accelerated aging is described. Treatment issues are discussed, primarily in terms of supportive environments, differential diagnosis, and assistance to the caregiver.