Dementias: Biological Bases and Clinical Approach to Treatment / Edition 1

by S. Govoni, C.L. Bolis, M. Trabucchi

Overview

To a certain extent the dementias have been forgotten diseases until just recen­ tly when they were brought to the attention of the general public and health authorities as a result of the increasing number of cases in the aging population, especially among famous people, and because of the efforts of private foundations. The goals of the present volume are to present the dementias to health prac­ titioners, to provide some basic information on their epidemiology and biolo­ gical basis and to discuss the diagnostic and clinical problems that physicians and institutions face when caring for demented patients. This book explores the various types of dementias and is not limited to Alzheimer's disease although, as expected, more information is available and presented on this pathology. On the other hand, a few fundamental questions on dementia can only be answe­ red through a comparison of the various forms. Examples of such questions are the following: Is the loss of cerebral tissue sufficient to cause dementia? Are there thresholds or is there a continuous progression toward the irreversible development of dementia? Are there common pathways in the dementing process? Are there common risk factors? Comparative analysis allows the common and distinctive patterns of the various dementias to be defined, ultimately leading to more focused therapeutic interventions.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9788847000483
Publisher:	Springer Milan
Publication date:	05/28/1999
Edition description:	1999
Pages:	308
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x (d)

About the Author

Govoni, Stefano (Univ of Pavia); Bolis, Carla Liana (Univ of Milan); Trabucchi, Marco (Univ of Rome "Tor Vergata")

Table of Contents

Dementias, the Dimension of the Problem: Epidemiology Notes.- The Biological Basis of Dementias.- Classification and Diagnosis of Dementias.- Alzheimer’s Disease.- Lacunes in — the Knowledge of — Vascular Dementia.- Dementia with Lewy Bodies.- Frontotemporal Dementia.- Pseudodementia.- Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in Dementia Patients.- Non-Cognitive Symptoms and Alterations in Demented Patients.- Pharmacotherapeutic Approach to the Treatment of Alzheimer Disease.- Non-Pharmacological Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders.- GENTLECARE: the Prosthetic Life Care Approach to Providing Dementia Care at Home or in Institutions.- Economics of Dementia.- Ethical Problems in Caring for Demented Patients.