TY - JOUR
T1 - General characteristics of treatable, reversible, and untreatable dementias
AU - Lowenthal, David T.
AU - Paran, Esther
AU - Burgos, Luis
AU - Williams, Leonard S.
PY - 2007/5/1
Y1 - 2007/5/1
N2 - The modification of cognitive function with age has been the focus of numerous studies. Most of the research has suggested that these changes, at least in the majority of individuals, occur only at a very advanced stage; however, those conditions that are treatable and potentially reversible are acute in onset and often associated with acute confusional states. Therefore, physicians should be aware of the possibility of reversible causes of cognitive change in their elderly patients, including certain medications responsible for memory loss and other organ system diseases. In addition, the authors stress that not all memory loss in geriatric patients is due to Alzheimer's disease and that when history and physical examination provide evidence of hypertension and magnetic resonance imaging provides evidence of leukoaraiosis, a diagnosis of vascular dementia should be considered.
AB - The modification of cognitive function with age has been the focus of numerous studies. Most of the research has suggested that these changes, at least in the majority of individuals, occur only at a very advanced stage; however, those conditions that are treatable and potentially reversible are acute in onset and often associated with acute confusional states. Therefore, physicians should be aware of the possibility of reversible causes of cognitive change in their elderly patients, including certain medications responsible for memory loss and other organ system diseases. In addition, the authors stress that not all memory loss in geriatric patients is due to Alzheimer's disease and that when history and physical examination provide evidence of hypertension and magnetic resonance imaging provides evidence of leukoaraiosis, a diagnosis of vascular dementia should be considered.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=34548190293&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/j.1076-7460.2007.06396.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1076-7460.2007.06396.x
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:34548190293
VL - 16
SP - 136
EP - 142
JO - American Journal of Geriatric Cardiology
JF - American Journal of Geriatric Cardiology
SN - 1076-7460
IS - 3
ER -