[Diagnosis of Alzheimer's dementia]

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia in the elderly. Owing to a lack of accurate easily determined clinical criteria, neuropathological findings remain decisive for establishing the diagnosis. However, full utilization of all the presently available methods, such as history taking, physical examination, neurological and mental status, psychological testing, laboratory examinations, additional procedures involving the use of diagnostic equipment, can result in a diagnostic accuracy of about 90%. The very wide spectrum of possible differential diagnostic possibilities can be greatly reduced by the judicious use of a few selective examinations. Here, the possibilities available in the doctor's office are better than ever before. Of decisive importance for the patient is to consider the possibility of dementia, and to exclude treatable causes as soon as possible.