from Section 1 - Essential Background Knowledge
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 October 2024
This chapter provides an introduction to dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). It covers the incidence and prevalence of the most common forms of dementia, and explains the underlying causes in terms of different types of proteinopathy. Risk factors for development of dementia are reviewed, along with protective factors. The role of age is also considered as different subtypes of dementia peak during different age ranges. The contribution of genetics and epigenetics is reviewed, along with the importance of blood supply, sleep, and inflammation. The theory of cognitive and neuronal reserve is introduced as one of the factors which can predict which people are more or less likely to develop dementia and MCI. Connectomics and the arrangement of the brain into circuits is covered, along with developments in neuro-imaging.
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