Abstract
The aim of this contribution is to provide a few historical and conceptual insights on the question of the impact of current developments in the neurosciences on the concept of psychiatric disease. Alzheimerâs disease is a good example when considering this important question. On the one hand, Alzheimerâs disease has a somewhat ambiguous status in terms of disorders affecting the mind or the psyche. This ambiguous status is illustrated by the fact that one commonly qualifies Alzheimerâs disease as a âneuropsychiatricâ disorder, because it cannot easily be classified as either a âneurologicalâ or âpsychiatricâ disorder. On the other hand, the concept of Alzheimerâs disease was created at the beginning of the twentieth century, as the neurosciences were beginning to take shape themselves as scientific disciplines. To compare Alzheimerâs original ideas with current conceptions may thus help us to precisely specify current developments in the neurosciences