Alzheimer's disease

Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:DiseaseDisorder infobox

Alzheimer's disease Microchapters

Home

Patient Information

Overview

Historical Perspective

Classification

Pathophysiology

Causes

Differentiating Alzheimer's disease from other Diseases

Epidemiology and Demographics

Risk Factors

Screening

Natural History, Complications and Prognosis

Diagnosis

Diagnostic study of choice

History and Symptoms

Physical Examination

Laboratory Findings

Electrocardiogram

X-ray

Ultrasound

CT scan

MRI

Other Imaging Findings

Other Diagnostic Studies

Treatment

Medical Therapy

Surgery

Primary Prevention

Secondary Prevention

Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy

Future or Investigational Therapies

Alzheimer's disease On the Web

Most recent articles

Most cited articles

Review articles

CME Programs

Powerpoint slides

Images

American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Alzheimer's disease

All Images
X-rays
Echo & Ultrasound
CT Images
MRI

Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov

US National Guidelines Clearinghouse

NICE Guidance

FDA on Alzheimer's disease

CDC on Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease in the news

Blogs on Alzheimer's disease

Directions to Hospitals Treating Alzheimer's disease

Risk calculators and risk factors for Alzheimer's disease

For patient information click here

Editor(s)-in-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S.,M.D. [1] Phone:617-632-7753; Peter Pressman, M.D. [2], Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Department of Neurology

Dr. Pressman has nothing to disclose.

Synonyms and keywords: AD; Alzheimer disease; senile dementia of the Alzheimer type; SDAT; Alzheimer's

Overview

Historical Perspective

Classification

Pathophysiology

Epidemiology and Demographics

Natural History, Complications and Prognosis

Diagnosis

History and Symptoms | Physical Examination | Other imaging findings

Treatment

Medical: Medical Therapy | Prevention | Future or Investigational Therapies | Family and Social Impact
Surgical: Surgery

Background

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia.

When a doctor or physician has been notified, and AD is suspected, the diagnosis is usually further supported by behavioral assessments and cognitive tests, often followed by a brain scan if available.[1] Individual prognosis is difficult to assess, as the duration of the disease varies. AD develops for an indeterminate period of time before becoming fully apparent, and it can progress undiagnosed for years. The mean life expectancy following diagnosis is approximately seven years.[2] Fewer than three percent of individuals live more than fourteen years after diagnosis.[3]

Currently-used treatments offer a small symptomatic benefit. No treatments to halt the progression of the disease are yet available. As of 2010, more than 700 clinical trials were investigating possible treatments for AD, but it is unknown if any of them will prove successful.[4] Many measures have been suggested for the prevention of Alzheimer's disease, but the value of these measures is unproven in slowing the course and reducing the severity of the disease. Mental stimulation, exercise, and a balanced diet are often recommended as both a possible prevention and a sensible way of managing the disease.[5]

Because AD cannot be cured, management of patients is essential as the disease progresses. The role of the main caregiver is often taken by a spouse or a close relative.[6] Alzheimer's disease is known for placing a great burden on caregivers; the pressures can be wide-ranging, affecting social, psychological, physical, and economic components of the caregiver's life.[7][8][9] In developed countries, AD is one of the most economically costly diseases to society.[10][11]

References

  1. "Alzheimer's diagnosis of AD". Alzheimer's Research Trust. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  2. Mölsä PK, Marttila RJ, Rinne UK (1986). "Survival and cause of death in Alzheimer's disease and multi-infarct dementia". Acta Neurol. Scand. 74 (2): 103–7. PMID 3776457. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help); |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  3. Mölsä PK, Marttila RJ, Rinne UK (1995). "Long-term survival and predictors of mortality in Alzheimer's disease and multi-infarct dementia". Acta Neurol. Scand. 91 (3): 159–64. PMID 7793228. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  4. "Alzheimer's Disease Clinical Trials". US National Institutes of Health. Retrieved 2008-08-18.
  5. "Can Alzheimer's disease be prevented" (pdf). National Institute on Aging. 2006-08-29. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  6. "The MetLife study of Alzheimer's disease: The caregiving experience" (PDF). MetLife Mature Market Institute. 2006. Retrieved 2008-02-12. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  7. Thompson CA, Spilsbury K, Hall J, Birks Y, Barnes C, Adamson J (2007). "Systematic review of information and support interventions for caregivers of people with dementia". BMC Geriatr. 7: 18. doi:10.1186/1471-2318-7-18. PMC 1951962. PMID 17662119.
  8. Schneider J, Murray J, Banerjee S, Mann A (1999). "EUROCARE: a cross-national study of co-resident spouse carers for people with Alzheimer's disease: I—Factors associated with carer burden". International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. 14 (8): 651–661. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1099-1166(199908)14:8<651::AID-GPS992>3.0.CO;2-B. PMID 10489656. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help); |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  9. Murray J, Schneider J, Banerjee S, Mann A (1999). "EUROCARE: a cross-national study of co-resident spouse carers for people with Alzheimer's disease: II--A qualitative analysis of the experience of caregiving". International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. 14 (8): 662–667. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1099-1166(199908)14:8<662::AID-GPS993>3.0.CO;2-4. PMID 10489657. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  10. Bonin-Guillaume S, Zekry D, Giacobini E, Gold G, Michel JP (2005). "Impact économique de la démence (English: The economical impact of dementia)". Presse Med (in French). 34 (1): 35–41. ISSN 0755-4982. PMID 15685097. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  11. Meek PD, McKeithan K, Schumock GT (1998). "Economic considerations in Alzheimer's disease". Pharmacotherapy. 18 (2 Pt 2): 68–73, discussion 79–82. PMID 9543467.


Template:WikiDoc Sources