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In America today, there are 46 million people over the age of 65 and there will be over 98 million by 2060. With aging, there are many neurological diseases that can adversely affect the brain, such as Alzheimer's disease, Lewy body dementia, and Parkinson's disease. These diseases are common and a major cause of disability and suffering. Although, in a small percentage of patients, these diseases can be related to a genetic defect, for the most part we do not fully understand their causes. Perhaps that is why they are called "degenerative diseases." Several decades ago, the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease was made only in those who were below the age of 65 and had signs of progressive dementia. If a person had cognitive deterioration and was above the age of 65, their disorder was called "senile dementia." One of the reasons this term was used is that many clinicians thought memory loss and cognitive decline were part of normal aging. Fortunately, we have learned that disorders such as Alzheimer's disease are associated with specific pathological changes in the brain, such as neurofibrillary tangles, and that normal aging does not cause this disease. Although the origins of these degenerative brain diseases are still unclear, much progress has been made in understanding their pathophysiology and paving the way for preventative, ameliorative, and curative treatments.

Brain --- Cognitive Aging. --- Cognitive Dysfunction. --- Neurodegenerative Diseases. --- Cerveau --- Cognition --- Troubles de la cognition. --- Maladies neurodégénératives. --- Physiology. --- physiology. --- Physiologie --- Chez la personne âgée --- Aspect physiologique.