[Denomination and general concept of dementia]

We believe that dementia will be, at the beginning of the next century, the fourth cause of mortality. It is a frequent error to consider dementia just as problem related to aging. The definition and diagnosis of the entity is clinical and not anatomopathological, requiring a detailed analysis of the cognoscitive functions, the relationship with the occupational, social and familiar environment of the patient and the search of potential etiological factors. In this paper, we commnet the general concept of dementia in order to clarify the implication of the term dementia and to reduce the frequent inaccuracy in its use and diagnosis.