title: Memory-sparing cognitive deterioration in the elderly: what is the diagnosis?
abstract: The case presented highlights the difficult differential diagnosis of memory-sparing cognitive decline in an elderly patient with previously stable bipolar illness. Many disorders can contribute to cognitive and behavioral deterioration in this population, including reversible causes, particularly delirium and psychiatric illness, and irreversible structural or progressive processes including vascular disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, normal-pressure hydrocephalus, and frontotemporal dementia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Michele L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Masi
authors.forename: Bruce H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Price
mesh_terms: D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003704:Dementia / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D018020:Lithium Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009480:Neuropharmacology / Q000592:standards; D000077152:Olanzapine; D011605:Psychoses, Substance-Induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D018692:Antimanic Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D018020:Lithium Compounds; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D000077152:Olanzapine