Dementia at old age: a clinical end-point of atherosclerotic disease.
The main causes of dementia at old age are Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. The clinical presentations of late-onset Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia can barely be differentiated. This clinical observation is supported by pathological findings. Late-onset dementia should be considered a multifactorial disease, in which both vascular factors and amyloid dispositions contribute to cognitive decline.
Blauw
G J
GJ
Section of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands.
Bollen
E L
EL
van Buchem
M A
MA
Westendorp
R G
RG
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D015984:Causality; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D023381:Endpoint Determination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology