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The British Journal of Psychiatry (2002) 180: 148-151
© 2002 The Royal College of Psychiatrists

OLD AGE PSYCHIATRY PAPERS

Subcortical dementia{dagger}

MARK A. TURNER, MRCPsych

Duchess of Kent Psychiatric Hospital, Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire

NICHOLAS F. MORAN, MRCP and MICHAEL D. KOPELMAN, FRCPsych

St Thomas' Hospital, London, UK

Correspondence: Dr Mark Turner, Duchess of Kent Psychiatric Hospital, Horne Road, Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire DL9 4DF, UK

Declaration of interest None.

{dagger} See editorial, pp. 97–98, this issue.

ABSTRACT

Background Drawing a distinction between cortical and subcortical dementias seems both useful and justified. Recent research has, however, cast doubt on the clinical, neuropsychological, neuroimaging and neuroanatomical basis of the distinction.

Aims To arrive at a reasoned conclusion about the relationship between the two types of dementia and the validity of distinguishing between them.

Method The historical and recent clinical and scientific literature on subcortical dementia was reviewed.

Results The traditional claim that subcortical dementia has distinct clinical manifestations, neuroimaging findings and a neuropathological profile is not altogether borne out by the literature. Some studies show that frontal executive dysfunction and the profile of memory deficits are not significantly different from those seen in Alzheimer's disease. Neuropathological findings also overlap.

Conclusions The category of subcortical dementia may be clinically useful in highlighting the likelihood that an individual with dementia is more likely to suffer from bradyphrenia and motor difficulties. As neuroscience advances a preoccupation with the distinction may hinder the assessment and treatment of individual cases.


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A. BURNS and I. G. McKEITH
Old age psychiatry
The British Journal of Psychiatry, February 1, 2002; 180(2): 97 - 98.
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