Behavioural Problems in Dementia and Biochemistry: Clinical Aspects

Behavioural and psychiatric problems in dementia are clinically important; they are also theoretically interesting. Neurochemical factors are likely to play a causal role in some of these problems. Two approaches to investigating the biochemical basis of behavioural problems are outlined: the correlation of prospectively collected behavioural data with postmortem neurochemical measures;and the detailed analysis of behaviour allowing investigation of underlying mechanisms. These approaches are illustrated with empirical data. David Bowen's neurochemical approach to dementia provided stimulus to this work.