Abstract
Although the term dementia has been largely used since many centuries in drama and theatrical literature the first scientific descriptions of dementia were made at the beginning of 19th century. One of the first clinical description may be found in «Des Maladies Mentales» by Esquirol of 1838. According to Esquirol dementia is “a chronic and afebrile mental disease characterized by an impairement of sensitivity, intelligence and willing”.…“senile dementia is established slowly. It commences with enfeeblement of memory, particularly the memory of recent impressions. The sensations are feeble; the attention, at first fatiguing, at length becomes impossible; the will is uncertain and without impulsion; the movements are slow and impratical”.
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Amaducci, L., Lippi, A., Sorbi, S. (1987). Senile Dementias: An Overview. In: Govoni, S., Battaini, F. (eds) Modification of Cell to Cell Signals During Normal and Pathological Aging. NATO ASI Series, vol 9. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-72729-0_15
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-72729-0_15
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