Overview
Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease are terms that are usually
interchanged. In the Introduction
section, this will be clarified.
There are millions of people affected by Alzheimer’s disease
regionally and worldwide. Details on the number of individuals affected are in
the Epidemiology section.
There are many causes of Alzheimer’s disease. The Etiology section enumerated these causes.
The complex and multifactorial pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease is
discussed in the Pathophysiology section.
The modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors of
Alzheimer’s disease are enumerated in the Risk
Factors section, while the different types of Alzheimer’s
disease are discussed in the Classification
section.
History and Physical Examination
The Clinical Presentation and History sections detail the cognitive and other manifestations of Alzheimer's disease. The Physical Examination section mentions the neurologic assessment needed to rule out treatable causes of the disease.
Diagnosis
Diagnostic criteria in diagnosing Alzheimer's disease are in
the Diagnosis or Diagnostic Criteria section.
The Screening, Laboratory
Tests and Ancillaries and Imaging sections enumerate the tests
that can be performed in assessing and evaluating the effect of the disease on the
patient.
Other diseases to be considered which present
similarly are in the Differential Diagnosis
section.
Management
There are several drugs that can be considered in the
management of cognitive and neuropsychiatric symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease
and they are enumerated and discussed in the Pharmacological
Therapy section.
Several supportive measures and psychotherapies can be given
to patients with Alzheimer’s disease and the Nonpharmacological
section explains each one.
The Prevention
section enumerates the ways to prevent the disease through the modifiable risk factors
identified.
