**Acknowledgments**

First of all, I would like to thank InTech Open Access Publisher that unconditionally sup‐ ported me in editing this book. Many people helped support the writing of this project. Sec‐ ond, I'd like to thank all the technical reviewers. These folks make sure the examples work, look for technical errors, and make many recommendations on writing quality. Obviously, it's not possible to write a quality medical book without quality scientific reviewers.

From my first editorial job until now, I am extremely grateful for the enthusiasm, skill, and professional support of Intech managers: Natalia Reinic and Dragana Manestar. I also re‐ ceived great support from Ana Pantar every time I needed her help. Currently, I am very grateful to Martina Usljebrka. Her enthusiastic and professional support was decisive for the creation of this book. Martina has meticulously coordinated the whole project with unfailing good mood and patience. She also reviewed my work without unnecessary delay, which allowed me to complete all tasks on time.

In spite of some previous frustration, I agreed to edit this particular book because I identified it as another way of approaching cognitive disorders and dementia covering novel aspects of this problem without ignoring their foundation. Therefore, apart from the classic issues that cannot be missing from any book about dementia, I introduce updated information about dementia and other cognitive disorders. Nevertheless, publication of this book could not have been possible but for the ungrudging efforts put in by a number of people working in the field of cognition and many individuals from many countries and ethnic, religious, and socioeconomic groups that coincidentally are influenced by cognitive disorders.

My family has graciously tolerated the precious time I spent on this project. Fortunately, my mom, my dad, my brother Francisco, and my first daughter Zayra Susana from heaven con‐ tinue to inspire me. My sisters Mayra Alejandra, Lilia Teresa, and Lorna Irene supported me all the time. My second daughter Lorna Maria (33 years old) and my little one Fatima Susa‐ na Adolfina (8 years old) encouraged me all the time to continue moving forward with per‐ sistence and tenacity. My son Thabo Humberto Jorge (10 years old) pushed me to play games with him that helped me to relax and to find new ideas and motivations. My whole family contributed to this project in one way or another, and all of them deserve my deep gratitude. My wife Lourdes de Fatima was the strongest supporter of this project, and with‐ out her collaboration, it would have never happened. I also want to thank the families, rela‐ tives, and friends of all the collaborators for their patience and tolerance of the lost evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays. My special thanks go to Walter Sisulu University (WSU).

The new university was named in honor of an icon of the South African liberation struggle and close comrade of Nelson Mandela, the late Walter Max Ulyate Sisulu. Many thanks go to Dr. E.N. Cishe, the Acting Director Research Development of WSU; Professor A.J. Mboka‐ zi, the Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences (WSU); Prof. Thozama Dubula, the Head of the Department of Medicine and Therapeutics; Dr. M. Mdledle, the Acting Governor Gener‐ al Director of the Clinical Governance of Nelson Mandela Central Hospital; and Mrs. N.P. Makwedini, the Chief Executive Officer of Nelson Mandela Central Hospital for the best un‐ derstanding and support. Finally, I extend my deepest sense of appreciation for the support received from Dr. Roberto Morales Ojeda, the Minister of Public Health of Cuba, and Dr. Jorge Delgado Bustillo, the Deputy Director of the Cuban National Unit for International Cooperation in Health.

has been sacrificed, but in the end, we all are very proud of this book. We are looking forward with confidence and pride to the vital role that this book will play for a new vision and mis‐

Every effort has been made to check all novel information given in this book, but it is impor‐ tant for our readership to scrutinize the latest information considering that it is a dynamic process of learning. We all attempted to bring in valuable updated information for all issues mentioned in this book. Every effort has been made in the preparation and editing of this book to ensure that the information given is correct, but it is possible that errors have been over‐ looked. Finally, we would like to highlight that we reviewed all controversial matters and our medical criteria and scientists' opinions have been expressed with modesty, honesty, and re‐ spect, but the reader is advised to refer to other published information to check accuracy.

First of all, I would like to thank InTech Open Access Publisher that unconditionally sup‐ ported me in editing this book. Many people helped support the writing of this project. Sec‐ ond, I'd like to thank all the technical reviewers. These folks make sure the examples work, look for technical errors, and make many recommendations on writing quality. Obviously,

From my first editorial job until now, I am extremely grateful for the enthusiasm, skill, and professional support of Intech managers: Natalia Reinic and Dragana Manestar. I also re‐ ceived great support from Ana Pantar every time I needed her help. Currently, I am very grateful to Martina Usljebrka. Her enthusiastic and professional support was decisive for the creation of this book. Martina has meticulously coordinated the whole project with unfailing good mood and patience. She also reviewed my work without unnecessary delay, which

In spite of some previous frustration, I agreed to edit this particular book because I identified it as another way of approaching cognitive disorders and dementia covering novel aspects of this problem without ignoring their foundation. Therefore, apart from the classic issues that cannot be missing from any book about dementia, I introduce updated information about dementia and other cognitive disorders. Nevertheless, publication of this book could not have been possible but for the ungrudging efforts put in by a number of people working in the field of cognition and many individuals from many countries and ethnic, religious, and

My family has graciously tolerated the precious time I spent on this project. Fortunately, my mom, my dad, my brother Francisco, and my first daughter Zayra Susana from heaven con‐ tinue to inspire me. My sisters Mayra Alejandra, Lilia Teresa, and Lorna Irene supported me all the time. My second daughter Lorna Maria (33 years old) and my little one Fatima Susa‐ na Adolfina (8 years old) encouraged me all the time to continue moving forward with per‐ sistence and tenacity. My son Thabo Humberto Jorge (10 years old) pushed me to play games with him that helped me to relax and to find new ideas and motivations. My whole family contributed to this project in one way or another, and all of them deserve my deep gratitude. My wife Lourdes de Fatima was the strongest supporter of this project, and with‐ out her collaboration, it would have never happened. I also want to thank the families, rela‐ tives, and friends of all the collaborators for their patience and tolerance of the lost evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays. My special thanks go to Walter Sisulu University (WSU).

socioeconomic groups that coincidentally are influenced by cognitive disorders.

it's not possible to write a quality medical book without quality scientific reviewers.

sion.

VIII Preface

**Acknowledgments**

allowed me to complete all tasks on time.

#### **Prof. H. Foyaca Sibat, MD, PhD, MSc**

First- and Second-Degree Specialist in Neurology Full Scientist Research Head of the Department of Neurology Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital Faculty of Health Sciences Walter Sisulu University Mthatha, South Africa

**Chapter 1**

**Provisional chapter**

**Introductory Chapter: Cognitive Disorders and Its**

**Introductory Chapter: Cognitive Disorders and Its** 

DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.77084

Dementia is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a progressive decline in multiple cognitive domains leading to deterioration of daily living activities, including social and professional functioning. The aging population has been increasing gradually, and in 1990, 26 countries with more than 2 million elderly citizens aged 65 years and older were identified. It is expected that by 2013 another 34 nations will be added in the list. On the other hand, calculations made in 2000 about the number of elderly peoples (over 65 years old) in the world reached the 420 million (7%), and they estimated around 1 billion by 2030 (12%), mainly in

Without doubt, the most common form of dementia in elderly people is Alzheimer disease

AD is a progressive disorder of multifactorial origin, well defined clinically with a number of biomarkers also well documented. According to the World Alzheimer Report from 2015, AD will increase exponentially as population ages being one of the biggest problems of our society in this century [2]. Currently, 46.8 million people live with dementia all over the world, and this number will be duplicated every 20 years. Today, the calculated incidence of demen-

The Monzino 80+ population-based study made in 2015 found that one quarter of 80+-yearold person had dementia even in advanced stages which increased prevalence in extreme ages such as: 15.7% in persons aged 70–84 years to 52 and 65.9% in peoples aged 95–99 and in

> © 2016 The Author(s). Licensee InTech. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

© 2018 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use,

distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

**Historical Background**

**Historical Background**

Humberto Foyaca Sibat and

**1. Introduction**

developing countries [1].

beyond 100 years, accordingly [3].

Humberto Foyaca Sibat and Lourdes de Fátima Ibañez Valdés

Lourdes de Fátima Ibañez Valdés

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.77084

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

(AD), but it can occur even in patients with 40 years of age.

tia is 9.9 million new patients, one new one every 3.2 s.

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

#### **Introductory Chapter: Cognitive Disorders and Its Historical Background Introductory Chapter: Cognitive Disorders and Its Historical Background**

DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.77084

Humberto Foyaca Sibat and Lourdes de Fátima Ibañez Valdés Humberto Foyaca Sibat and Lourdes de Fátima Ibañez Valdés

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.77084
