History of Senile Dementia from the Antiquity to the Beginning of the Modern Age.

AIMS: This study aims, to trace the history of age-associated dementia from the earliest historical periods to the beginning of the modern age.

BACKGROUND

Since the medical literature prior to the early 19th century is relatively scarce, the near absence of senile dementia has been hypothesized.

OBJECTIVE

Verify the prevalence of senile dementia across different historical periods.

METHODS

Beyond the medical literature, reviewed papers addressing legal and social aspects were examined to provide a comprehensive overview of the subject.

RESULTS

While the medical literature on the subject is limited, there are a greater abundance of sources discussing social and legislative aspects. The scientific study of dementia had began only in the early 1800s.

CONCLUSION

In ancient times, dementia was not particularly rare, but it was often overlooked, as it was considered an inevitable consequence of aging.