Classification of the dementias

Abstract

Dementia is not a disease. It is the neuropsychological deficit which results from chronic brain disease or encephalopathy. Dementias may be nonprogressive, for example resulting from brain trauma or cerebral hypoxia, or progressive, resulting from intrinsic, extrinsic or metabolic cerebral disorder. The progressive encephalopathies, in particular those resulting from intrinsic brain disease, form the subject of this review.