Neurocognitive Disorders

Neurocognitive disorders (NCDs) are classified as mild or major in the DSM-5; major NCDs include dementia that can have a number of causes. Mild disorders include mild cognitive impairment and do not prevent someone from living alone. Causes of dementia include Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Lewy body dementia, Huntington’s disease, vascular dementia, and frontotemporal dementia. This chapter discusses major NCDs, including diagnostic and clinical features, comorbid conditions that affect function, and specific approaches to patient management, including caregiver training. While dementia is a progressive disease, skilled interprofessional care can slow its progression and help affected individuals maintain as much function and quality of life as possible.