Cognitive deterioration: Looking for a better clinical characterization and a definition of the determining factors

Cognitive impairment is among the major emerging medical problems. The number of subjects with a progressive loss of cognitive abilities is growing, also in relation to the increase in life expectancy. Medical and social consequences are enormous. Research has made significant progresses in the field of dementia, especially as regards pathophysiological knowledge and diagnostic approaches. From a therapeutic point of view, the situation is less satisfying. The Neurological Clinic of the Marche Polytechnic University has traditionally devoted resources and energies to the study of conditions favoring the development of cognitive deterioration in an attempt to underline the importance of early diagnosis, correct clinical classification and definition of mechanisms able to favor the development and progression of deficits. In this chapter, the scientific evidences obtained about the possibility to characterize the clinical pictures of the different forms of cognitive deterioration are discussed. Furthermore, ample space is devoted to illustrate the results of the studies carried out in order to identify reliable markers of cognitive deterioration onset and progression.