Dementia is a major health problem that becomes increasingly common with advancing age. Despite recent progress in neurobiology and molecular genetics, the aetiology and pathogenesis of most dementia disorders are still poorly understood, and early exact diagnosis as a prerequisite of effective treatment needs to be improved. The present volume includes the contributions of renowned experts in the field of neurodegeneration presented at the International Symposium "Ageing and Dementia 1999", September 24-26, 1999 at Graz. It focusses on genetics, epidemiology, new neuroimaging techniques, and the role of vascular, immunological and other mechanisms including oxidative stress and estrogens in the development of neurodegeneration and dementia. Recent developments in diagnosis and therapy of Alzheimer disease and related disorders are reviewed and future therapeutic approaches are discussed. Thus, this volume provides a timely overview of most recent developments in dementia research and treatment strategies of dementia disorders.

Dementia is an acquired disorder of higher cerebral functions and cognition. Because of increasing life expectancy dementia poses a major health and socio- economic problem. Alzheimer's disease accounts for 70-90% of mental decline in the elderly. Degenerative non-Alzheimer's dementi as are responsi- ble for 7-30%. These include a variety of disorders clinically characterised by progressive cognitive dysfunction often combined with focal neurological def- icits, e.g. Parkinson-plus syndromes, Lewy body dementia, lobar and multisys- tem atrophies, other neurodegenerative disorders, and prion diseases. Often it is difficult to distinguish these illnesses from Alzheimer's disease and vascu- lar dementia. In spite of considerable progress in molecular genetics, biochemistry, and neuropathology, the classification and pathogenesis of non-Alzheimer's dementias are still debatable. Diagnosis is frequently made only at postmor- tem. Because disease markers are not available for the majority of non- Alzheimer's dementias, consensus criteria for the identification of such diseas- es are warranted. These criteria could serve at a basis for early diagnosis and distinction from other dementing disorders.

Alzheimers Disease (AD), the most frequent cause of mental decline in the elderly represents one of the major health problems facing modern society. Despite considerable progress in the clinical diagnosis, epidemiology, structural basis, biochemistry, molecular genetics, and pharmacological aspects of AD, its etiology, molecular backgrounds, and treatment challenges are still poorly understood. This volume based on the 2nd International Symposium of EBEWE Research Initiative in October 1993 in Salzburg, Austria, is conceived as a review of our current knowledge of morphology, diagnostic clinical and imaging techniques, methodological approaches of cognitive assessment, trial designs, outcome variables and possibilities of therapy of AD and other neurodegenerative disorders. The books coverage is broad and it should be of interest for investigators, clinicians, and researchers involved in the problems of AD."