Which condition is most likely an etiology of cortical dementia?

Cortical dementia refers to a group of conditions characterized by a decline in cognitive function due to damage to the cerebral cortex, which is responsible for various high-level functions such as memory, attention, perception, and reasoning. Alzheimer's disease is the most significant cause of cortical dementia, accounting for a large percentage of dementia cases.

The pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease involves the accumulation of amyloid plaques and tau tangles that lead to neuronal damage and cognitive decline, making it a classic example of cortical dementia. Individuals with Alzheimer's experience problems with memory, language, and other cognitive skills due to the degeneration of the cortical areas of the brain responsible for these functions.

In contrast, other conditions like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis primarily affect motor neurons and can lead to mixed dementia when combined with other factors, while Parkinson's disease often includes subcortical degeneration, leading to different symptoms primarily related to motor function before cognitive issues arise. Huntington's disease, while it does include cognitive decline, is also characterized by significant subcortical involvement and is not classified strictly as a cortical dementia. This delineation makes Alzheimer's disease the most appropriate answer regarding the etiology of cortical dementia.