Alternative Names
Senile dementia – Alzheimer’s type (SDAT); SDAT
Definition of Alzheimer’s disease
is a loss of brain function that occurs with certain diseases. Alzheimer’s disease (AD), is one form of dementia that gradually gets worse over time. It affects memory, thinking, and behavior.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Age and family history are risk factors for AD.
Symptoms
Dementia symptoms include difficulty with many areas of mental function, including:
Signs and tests
AD can often be diagnosed through a history and physical exam by a skilled doctor or nurse. A health care provider will take a history, do a physical exam (including a neurological exam), and perform a mental status examination.
Treatment
Unfortunately, there is no cure for AD. The goals in treating AD are to:
Expectations (prognosis)
How quickly AD gets worse is different for each person. If AD develops quickly, it is more likely to worsen quickly.
Review
Daniel Kantor, MD, Medical Director of Neurologique, Ponte Vedra, FL and President of the Florida Society of Neurology (FSN). Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc. – 10/4/2010
