Alzheimer's Disease & Dementia Disease Summary

Last updated: 29 April 2025

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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.