The concept of dementia: retain, reframe, rename or replace?

摘要: From antiquity the term "dementia" has denoted a state of severe acquired intellectual deterioration which significantly interferes with fulfillment personal, social or occupational roles, and makes individual dependent on care supervision by others. The medical concept dementia refers to pattern cognitive behavioral symptoms typically arises from chronic often progressive brain diseases. quantitative expression this shows broad variability, some patients fall within boundaries whose functional abilities are only mildly impaired. On other hand, currently an unduly narrow qualitative bandwidth, because it is modeled after subtype occurs in Alzheimer's disease but does not represent good fit for important subtypes. In authors' view, should be retained despite its limitations, since role directing physician's attention certain group underlying pathologies. This diagnostic will remain primary even if biological indicators one several etiologies become part routine research units future. construct further value entitles treatment, assistance legal protection. Although our opinion need replaced, upcoming revisions psychiatric classification systems have reframe emphasizing heterogeneity psychopathological symptom pattern. view increasing importance early diagnosis however, "dementia", literally means "absence mind", no longer appropriate timely designation range limitations covered concept. It renamed, using terminology accommodates scientific advance meets requirements communication while preserving benefits their families.