Update Dementia: Diagnostics, Therapeutic Options - and a Glimpse into the Futur

Due to demographic trends worldwide, the number of dementia patients will increase dramatically in the coming years. Serious estimates assume that the number of patients will double by about 2033. In order to be able to treat the disease effectively, a meaningfuland targeted diagnosis that reveals the etiology of dementia symptoms is crucial. However, the diagnosis of dementia can be challanging. In our lecture, we show which diagnostic strategies can be used to differentiate primary neurodegenerative diseases. Beside imagingmethods, the focus will be on CSF analysis and, above all, on clinical symptoms and examination strategies In addition to Alzheimer‘s pathology, we show typical symptoms of the most important differential diagnoses, i.a. frontotemporal lobar degenerations, Lewy bodydementia, vascular dementia, or dementia due to Parkinson‘s disease. Additionally, we will highlight secondary degenerative processes. We will discuss the currently available and guideline-appropiate therapeutic options and give an outlook on future diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for dementia, in particular for Alzheimer‘s pathology.