Implications of Skinner's Verbal Behavior for Studying Dementia (Report‪)‬

Overview of Dementia "Dementia" is a generic term that describes the progressive decline in a number of cognitive abilities such as attention, memory, language, perception, and reasoning that interferes with daily functioning (APA, 2000). Dementia can also result in behavioral changes such as wandering or aggression, declines in self-care skills, and mood disturbances such as depression or anxiety. Dementia can be caused by a number of different, irreversible causes (e.g., Alzheimer's disease, vascular disease, Pick's disease) as well as reversible causes (e.g., vitamin B12 deficiency, medication overdose). Dementia is a serious public health concern in the United States. If one considers all causes of dementia, approximately 6-10% of individuals over the age of 65 suffer from dementia, with Alzheimer's Disease (AD) accounting for approximately 65% of all cases (Hendrie, 1997). Age is the number one risk factor for developing dementia, which is particularly concerning given the rapidly aging population of the United States. It is projected that 13 to 15 million Americans could suffer from AD alone by the year 2050 if no cure is found (Hebert, Scherr, Bienias, Bennet, & Evans, 2003).