Are Alzheimer's, dementias, or mental retardation classified as mental disorders?

Alzheimer's disease, various forms of dementia, and intellectual disabilities (previously referred to as mental retardation) are typically classified under different categories in diagnostic frameworks rather than being labeled strictly as mental disorders.

In the context of mental health classifications, Alzheimer's and dementia are often classified under neurocognitive disorders, which reflect their roots in biological changes and cognitive impairments rather than in psychological disturbances commonly associated with typical mental disorders. Intellectual disabilities are categorized separately as developmental disorders, focusing on cognitive functioning and the associated limitations that arise in learning and social adaptation rather than psychiatric conditions.

This distinction is important for understanding how these conditions are approached in clinical practice, treatment, and care settings. Therefore, the assertion that they are not classified as mental disorders aligns with established medical and psychological classification systems.