{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: The Etiology of Rapidly Progressive Dementia: A 3-Year Retrospective Study in a Tertiary Hospital in China.
{Author}: Shi Q;Liu WS;Liu F;Zeng YX;Chen SF;Chen KL;Yu JT;Huang YY;
{Journal}: J Alzheimers Dis
{Volume}: 100
{Issue}: 1
{Year}: 2024 Jun 5
{Factor}: 4.16
{DOI}: 10.3233/JAD-240079
{Abstract}: <B>UNASSIGNED: </B>Rapidly progressive dementia (RPD), characterized by a rapid cognitive decline leading to dementia, comprises a diverse range of disorders. Despite advancements in diagnosis and treatment, research on RPD primarily focuses on Western populations.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>This study aims to explore the etiology and demographics of RPD in Chinese patients.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>We retrospectively analyzed 323 RPD inpatients at Huashan Hospital from May 2019 to March 2023. Data on sociodemographic factors, epidemiology, clinical presentation, and etiology were collected and analyzed.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>The median onset age of RPD patients was 60.7 years. Two-thirds received a diagnosis within 6 months of symptom onset. Memory impairment was the most common initial symptom, followed by behavioral changes. Neurodegenerative diseases accounted for 47.4% of cases, with central nervous system inflammatory diseases at 30.96%. Autoimmune encephalitis was the leading cause (16.7%), followed by Alzheimer's disease (16.1%), neurosyphilis (11.8%), and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (9.0%). Alzheimer's disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, and frontotemporal dementia were the primary neurodegenerative causes, while autoimmune encephalitis, neurosyphilis, and vascular cognitive impairment were the main non-neurodegenerative causes.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>The etiology of RPD in Chinese patients is complex, with neurodegenerative and non-neurodegenerative diseases equally prevalent. Recognizing treatable conditions like autoimmune encephalitis and neurosyphilis requires careful consideration and differentiation.