Introduction Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) is a neurodegenerative condition that selectively affects the frontal and anterior temporal lobes of the brain, resulting in progressive shortfalls in behavior and language. More than a century ago Arnold Pick, a Czechoslovakian neurologist and…
The term vascular cognitive disorder (VCD) refers to a heterogeneous group of disorders in which the salient feature is the presence of cognitive impairment primarily attributable to cerebrovascular disease (CVD). The conceptualization of this disorder has had a checkered history,…
Alzheimer disease (AD) is the most common cause for dementia affecting older adults. The illness was first described by Alois Alzheimer in 1906 in a 51-year-old woman with well-described features of dementia. After death, her brain was examined and found…
Introduction The aging of the U.S. baby boomer population has given rise to a significant increase in the prevalence of Alzheimer disease, the most common form of dementia in adults older than 65 years. One in three Americans aged 85…
Overview Dementia is a critical public health problem worldwide, especially as populations age. As a consequence, physicians dealing with a range of other age-associated problems can expect to see such problems in patients with dementia. Dementia diagnosis is evolving. Here,…
Respiratory disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, affecting 1 in 10 of the population older than 65 years. The presentation and management of respiratory disease often differs in older adults. This chapter provides some insight into these…
Diseases of Airflow Obstruction Two common chronic lung diseases found in older adults are characterized by expiratory airflow obstruction on lung function testing: asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In most cases, it is possible to distinguish asthma from…
Introduction Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is the third most common cardiovascular disease and an important cause of morbidity and mortality. Older people account for nearly two thirds of episodes. Between 65 and 69 years of age, annual incidence rates per 1000…
Introduction As the prevalence of atherosclerosis increases with advancing age, it is hardly surprising that specialists in geriatric medicine frequently find vascular disease in their patients. For many, their overall degree of frailty is such that neither detailed investigation nor…
Introduction Definition Syncope is a transient loss of consciousness (TLOC) due to transient global cerebral hypoperfusion and is characterized by rapid onset, short duration, and spontaneous complete recovery. TLOC is a term that encompasses all disorders characterized by self-limited loss…