title: Dementia.
abstract: Dementia is a clinical syndrome of progressive decline of intellectual abilities. It is common, affecting 3.7 million Americans. Many diseases can cause dementia; the most common is Alzheimer's disease. Additional causes of dementia include multiple cerebral infarctions, depression, alcoholism and hydrocephalus. It is important to look for treatable causes of dementia. At present, Alzheimer's disease cannot be cured, but understanding its pathophysiology may at least lead to amelioration of some of its devastating symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Gall
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Black
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000503:physiopathology; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology