Resumen

MEDINA, L. D.  y  RODRIGUEZ-AGUDELO, Yaneth. Cognitive impairment of dementias. J. behav. health soc. ISSUES [online]. 2012, vol.4, n.2, pp.37-44. ISSN 2007-0780.  https://doi.org/10.5460/jbhsi.v4.2.34106.

Dementia is a clinical syndrome characterized by a loss of cognitive and emotional abilities of sufficient severity to infer with social or occupational functioning, or both. Although the causes of dementia and characteristics are not always fully understood, it is understood that it is not a natural part of aging. Definitive diagnosis of dementia is made only through the autopsy and although the diagnosis of probable or possible dementia is complex is achieved by the intervention of several specialists in the area, such as neurologists, geriatricians, neuropsychologists etc. Currently it is clear the role of the neuropsychologist and the utility of the assessment of cognitive functions and emotional needs of patients to determine the precise diagnosis. We know that early identification of cognitive disorders and early diagnosis of dementia are important to the development of any potential therapy to delay or prevent altering the progress of the disease. A clinical assessment will confirm whether cognitive impairment stabilizes or progresses to dementia. The aim of this paper is to describe some of the more common dementias and provide information on the differential diagnosis and distinction from other possible causes of cognitive deficits in dementia.

Palabras llave : Dementia; cognitive impairment; neuropsychology.

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