This volume provides a comprehensive understanding of the biology of dementias, including information on advancements in the way these disorders are perceived and studied. From earlier assumptions that cognitive deficits were simply age related, this handbook progresses into complex discussions of the diseases that affect the cortex of the human brain. Clinicians will find extensive diagnostic and research perspectives on a variety of interesting topics, including neuropathology, physiopathology, biology, clinics, and imaging information on all, or most, of the dementing disorders currently known. In addition, chapters devoted to legal and ethical issues give practitioners and health care workers an informative view on complex dementias and the way these disorders affect patients and families. Clinicians in all levels of expertise will find useful and synthetic information.