Dementia is a challenging constellation of pathology, symptoms, and treatment modalities. Multiple etiologies for dementia have been proposed, resulting in numerous research attempts at determining the underlying causes and potential therapeutic approaches. Currently, psychopharmacological management of dementia, particularly Alzheimer's disease, focuses on the manifested cognitive and noncognitive symptoms. This article provides an overview and description of dementia, explores current and investigational agents used in the treatment of accompanying cognitive and noncognitive symptoms, and suggests considerations for assessing certain aspects of pharmacological management.If conditions such as schizophrenia, panic disorder, depression, and bipolar disorder are considered baffling, frustrating, and bewildering, most certainly a diagnosis of probable dementia emerges as devastating for individuals, their families, caregivers, and clinicians providing support and treatment. Dementia is characterized by the development of multiple cognitive impairments due to various causes (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 1994). Cognitive ability deteriorates to the point that occupational and social functioning are compromised. Disturbances in memory, language, perception, judgment, problem solving, abstract thinking, and processing new information develop. Numerous etiological factors have been implicated, including infections, metabolic imbalances, nutritional deficiencies, toxic substances, intracranial lesions, cerebrovascular disorders, psychiatric disorders, and central nervous system disease. As these and other possible etiologic factors for dementia are explored, innovative methods of diagnosis and treatment will be forthcoming. This article focuses on a general review of dementia,