Dementia provides two important diagnostic challenges. The first of these is the need to establish whether what appears to be an exaggeration of the normal mental changes of ageing is really dementia. The second involves determining the nature of the underlying illness if the diagnosis of dementia is confirmed.
This chapter will provide an outline of the procedures involved and will also give some information about many of the more important conditions, both treatable and untreatable. As Alzheimer’s disease and multiple infarct dementia are the two most common causes, and much is known about them that will be of interest to those caring for sufferers, each has a chapter of its own and is not discussed in detail here.
It is probably unnecessary for most readers to refer to the sections dealing with each of the different underlying illnesses – it may be less confusing to refer only to that condition which is affecting the person for whom they are caring. Professional carers – those working in old people’s homes, nursing homes, or with patients in their own homes – may find it helpful to read this section in its entirety, or to refer to it from time to time as necessary.
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