This is the first book devoted to subcortical dementia. It brings together the contributions of neurologists, neuropsychologists, neurochemists, and neuroanatomists to provide a comprehensive description of the dementia syndromes associated with subcortical dysfunction. The behavioral and neuropsychological alterations observed in multiple subcortical strokes, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and other disorders affecting the deep hemispheric brain are presented. The profiles of subcortical dementia recently identified in the AIDS dementia complex and multiple sclerosis are also discussed. The contrasting neuropsychological profile of subcortical dementias and cortical disorders such as Alzheimer's disease are summarized, and clinically useful means of distinguishing among dementing disorders are emphasized. The book provides practical information that will help clinicians evaluate and treat the many disorders that manifest intellectual impairment in association with subcortical disease. It also synthesizes information from a variety of clinical and basic scientific disciplines to enhance understanding of the role of subcortical structures in human cognition.