title: Classification and diagnosis of dementia: a mechanism-based approach.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Capa Istanbul, Turkey. muratemre@superonline.com
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Emre
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003704:Dementia / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests