Assessment of Dementia Under Prevailing Indian Laws and Its Implications

Abstract

significant cognitive impairment. Dementia is the main cause of cognitive impairment among people aged 65 years and over. The prevalence of dementia increases with age. It is essential to differentiate dementia from other clinical states like mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and other prevalent mental health conditions like depression. Dementia is a clinical syndrome that many diseases can cause. The onset and progression vary depending on the etiology, but onset is usually insidious with slow progression. Dementia often remains a hidden problem, more so in societies with low public awareness about dementia. Often, people with mild to moderate dementia do not get identified. Clinical recognition of dementia is easier in the clinical setting when its severity is moderate or severe. However, the diagnosis can be challenging in the case of MCI and mild dementia. As dementia impacts the individual's mental capacity, a thorough understanding of the implications of such impairments is necessary to clarify the issues related to the application of the current Indian laws.