Classification of Dementias and Their Complex Treatment

1. Overview & Epidemiology

Definition (Gajdos / DSM-5-TR). Dementia = major neurocognitive disorder: an acquired, usually progressive decline from a previously attained level in one or more cognitive domains, severe enough to interfere with independence in everyday activities. The cardinal symptom is cognitive impairment ("memory, judgment, orientation, and cognition"; motor dysfunction appears at the end). Cognitive impairment is the cardinal symptom shared by the three core organic syndromes: delirium, dementia, amnestic disorders.

Why it matters (Gajdos).

• Background physiologic changes are treatable in 10–20% of cases when recognised at an early stage → sc