All of the following are features of dementia, EXCEPT:: (A) Insidious in onset, (B) Usually irreversible, (C) Clouding of consciousness present, (D) Hallucinations are rare
Answer is C. Dementia is a persistent progressive impairment in intellectual function. It is associated with loss of memory and at least one of the following cognitive domains such as aphasia, apraxia, agnosia and impaired executive function. Clouding of consciousness is not seen in dementia, it is seen in delirium. Ref: Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment 2012, chapter 4.