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Classification and diagnosis of dementia: a mechanism‐based approach
Author(s) -
Emre M.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
european journal of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.881
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1468-1331
pISSN - 1351-5101
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-1331.2008.02379.x
Subject(s) - dementia , mechanism (biology) , medicine , pathological , etiology , classification of mental disorders , psychiatry , neuroscience , disease , pathology , psychology , mental health , prevalence of mental disorders , philosophy , epistemology
Dementia is an acquired disorder of the brain, designating an impairment of established mental functions due to various aetiologies, representing a decline from pre‐morbid level which is severe enough to impair normal daily functioning. Classification of dementias is commonly based on individual aetiological categories, more recently molecular‐pathological classifications have been proposed for degenerative dementias. This article is an attempt to provide a comprehensive, yet simplified classification of dementias following a mechanism‐based approach. A systematic approach to diagnostic work‐up is also proposed based on this classification.