Case 12-1999

Presentation of CaseA 67-year-old, right-handed man was admitted to the hospital because of increasing dementia.Three years before admission, the patient's cognitive function began to decline. One year later, a neurologist diagnosed progressive dementia with parkinsonism.During the two months before admission, the patient became agitated, and trazodone was prescribed. His family noted transient periods when he stared into space and did not respond to his surroundings. He fell several times, with apparent loss of consciousness but no obvious injury.One week before admission, the patient punched his wife because she would not let him drive. Soon thereafter, he . . .