Our paper describes the neuropsychiatric signs and symptoms of late-life disorders of cognitive impairment. Late-life cognitive disorders are associated with psychiatric symptoms in various ways—from apparent risk factors to pathognomonic features of particular dementias. They contribute greatly to the burden of illness, both in people with dementia, and in those who care for them. Here we consider specific dementia symptoms in relation to dementing illnesses and to the stages of dementia. Recognizing that no one drug is likely to successfully treat all dementia symptoms, we argue for a syndromic approach, which can lead to appropriately targeted therapy.
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