THE CHALLENGE OF THE DEMENTIAS

Cognitive decline is a common feature of ageing, sometimes gentle at o ther times less so. It manifests as a wide spectrum from cognitive imp airment that is not dementia to Alzheimer's disease and to the much ra rer but potentially enlightening familial forms. The Lancet's 1996 int ernational conference was held in Edinburgh, UH, on April 25 and 26. T he meeting brought together epidemiologists, geneticists, neuropsychol ogists, neuropathologists, clinicians, and imaging specialists, and th ose concentrating on the social and ethical aspects of the dementias. Half the conference was devoted to discussion that crossed specialty b oundaries. This report highlights the major areas of agreement and con troversy and points to opportunities for future multidisciplinary rese arch.