J Korean Geriatr Psychiatry.  1999 Jun;3(1):32-39.

Treatment and Management of Senile Dementia

• Han IW

Abstract

There are about sixty to seventy diseases which develop dementia until now. These include degenerative disease, vascular disease, infectious disease, hydrocephalus, toxic condition, head trauma, tumor , metabolic disease, and demyelinating disease etc. 20% of dementing illness is reversible to treatment. Treatment strategies of dementia can be classified as disease-specific treatment, pharmacotherapy with neurocognitive activators or psychopharmacologic agents, and nonpharmacologic intervention such as neurocognitive rehabilitation, reminiscence therapy, occupational or physical therapy, and psychosocial approach. But medical approach is necessary to prevent disability stemming from pneumonia, dehydration, malnutrition, decubitus ulcer, and other complication. These treatment strategies must be administered comprehensibly due to characteristics of the dementia patients.

Keyword

Disease-specific treatment; Neurocognitive activators; Neurocognitive rehabilitation

MeSH Terms

Alzheimer Disease*
Communicable Diseases
Craniocerebral Trauma
Dehydration
Dementia
Demyelinating Diseases
Drug Therapy
Humans
Hydrocephalus
Malnutrition
Metabolic Diseases
Occupational Therapy
Pneumonia
Pressure Ulcer
Rehabilitation
Vascular Diseases