Dementia in young people: Study of an Algerian series

Introduction. Dementia in young people is a condition which appears to be rare in terms of frequency, but which has been found to be fairly prevalent in populationbased epidemiological studies. They are the source of a mental handicap that precedes the physical handicap, the source of a loss of autonomy as well as a considerable financial loss for the patient, his carers and society. The aetiologies are diverse and varied, with a predominantly degenerative component. Nevertheless, an exhaustive work-up is necessary in order to detect possible curable causes. Methods. In this study, we will analyse an Algerian cohort in order to determine the demographic, aetiological and evolutionary characteristics of dementia in people under 65 years of age. An exhaustive clinical and paraclinical work-up was carried out in order to identify the possible aetiologies of these dementias. Results. total of 80 cases were collated, with Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia and anxietydepression syndromes identified as the main aetiologies. Conclusion.is imperative to be able to evoke this diagnosis at an early stage to offer equally early treatment, particularly in acquired and potentially curable forms.