Reversible dementia in elderly: Really uncommon?

• Main Authors: Damodar Chari, Ramjan Ali, Ravi Gupta
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2015-01-01
• Series: Journal of Geriatric Mental Health
• Subjects: Dementia; elderly; reversible
• Online Access: http://www.jgmh.org/article.asp?issn=2348-9995;year=2015;volume=2;issue=1;spage=30;epage=37;aulast=Chari

There has been a steady rise in the prevalence of dementia all over the world. Our understanding of the illness, as well as its etiopathology, has also improved. Dementias due to degenerative and vascular pathology form the most common types of dementias resulting in cognitive impairment. However, these conditions usually lead to irreversible impairment and cause significant morbidity and mortality among patients. On the other hand, there is a group of conditions among elderly, where dementia follow a reversible course provided these conditions are picked and managed early. Few common causes of reversible dementias are Vitamin B12 deficiency, normal pressure hydrocephalus, thyroid dysfunction, anticholinergic medications, depression, etc. This review will discuss all these conditions with reference to their presentation, diagnosis, and management.