Different parts of the brain have different functions. Knowing how disease or injury affects different parts of the brain may help explain symptoms associated with dementia, traumatic brain injuries, and mental illness.

Looking at dementia from the outside in, we are moved to do the following:

• Protect persons from abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
• Understand a person better.
• Assist when physical well-being is neglected.
• Plan for long-term needs of an aging population.

Looking at dementia from the inside out, we are moved to do the following:

• Learn and understand who a person is.
• Focus on what a person can do.
• Respect that who a person is, is at least as important as what illness they have.