title: Differential diagnosis of dementing illnesses.
abstract: Dementia is a symptom complex that may occur in over 60 disorders. The importance of the mental status test in the diagnosis of dementia is emphasized. A systemic approach to the differential diagnosis of the disorders that produce dementia is described.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000150:complications; D007562:Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome / Q000150:complications; D003704:Dementia / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006816:Huntington Disease / Q000150:complications; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000150:complications; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010243:Paralysis / Q000150:complications; D010302:Parkinson Disease, Secondary / Q000150:complications; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed