 |
|
Diagnosis, Management, and Treatment of Alzheimer Disease
A Guide for the Internist
Stephanie S. Richards, MD;
Hugh C. Hendrie, MB, ChB
Arch Intern Med. 1999;159:789-798.
Alzheimer disease (AD) is a diagnosis of inclusion based on patient history, physical examination, neuropsychological testing, and laboratory studies; however, there is no definitive diagnostic test for AD. Early recognition of AD allows time to plan for the future and to treat patients before marked deterioration occurs. Effective treatment requires monitoring of symptoms, functional impairment, and safety, and the use of multiple treatment modalities including pharmacotherapy, behavioral management, psychotherapies, psychosocial treatments, and support and education for families. Pharmacotherapeutic agents available for AD only provide symptomatic relief. The cholinesterase inhibitors, tacrine and donepezil, are effective in improving cognition, delaying nursing home placement, and improving behavioral complications in some patients. Other cholinesterase inhibitors are in development, as are other cholinomimetic agents such as muscarinic and nicotinic receptor agonists. Symptomatic treatments are available for the psychiatric manifestations of AD. Anti-inflammatories, antioxidants, neurotrophic factors, and other agents are promising new treatments for the future.
From the Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis.
RELATED ARTICLE
Archives of Internal Medicine Reader's Choice: Continuing Medical Education
Arch Intern Med. 1999;159(8):886-887.
FULL TEXT
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES
|
Disclosing a Dementia Diagnosis: A Review of Opinion and Practice, and a Proposed Research Agenda
Carpenter and Dave
Gerontologist 2004;44:149-158.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Cognitive Impairment, Chronic Medical Illness, and Risk of Mortality in an Elderly Cohort
Feil et al.
AJGP 2003;11:551-560.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Anesthesia, the aging brain, and the surgical patient
Crosby and Culley
Canadian J. Anesthesia 2003;50:R12-12.
FULL TEXT
Preservation of Cognitive Function With Antihypertensive Medications: A Longitudinal Analysis of a Community-Based Sample of African Americans
Murray et al.
Arch Intern Med 2002;162:2090-2096.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
The physiology, medical management and oral implications of menopause
FRIEDLANDER
Journal of the American Dental Association 2002;133:73-81.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Community-based services help people in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease and other cognitive impairments
Noyes et al.
AM J ALZHEIMERS DIS OTHER DEMEN 2000;15:309-313.
ABSTRACT
|
