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. 2009 Jan;2(1):39-47.

Alzheimer's disease: a healthcare burden of epidemic proportion

T S Dharmarajan  1 , Srinivas G Gunturu  2
Affiliations

Alzheimer's disease: a healthcare burden of epidemic proportion

T S Dharmarajan et al. Am Health Drug Benefits. 2009 Jan.

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia and increases in prevalence exponentially with age, with trends in the United States likely to worsen in ensuing decades. The pathology in Alzheimer's disease is characterized by an increase in extracellular amyloid plaques and intraneural neurofibrillary tangles, with neuronal destruction in several areas of the brain, and biochemically by a deficiency in acetylcholine; clinical manifestations include progressive loss of memory, change in personality, and behavioral disturbances. Pharmacotherapy includes the T.S. Dharmarajan Srinivas G. Gunturu use of cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine; addressing the many behavioral manifestations of the disease, especially in advanced stages, imposes tremendous burden to caregivers and healthcare resources.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Projected Annual Incidence of Alzheimer's Disease in the United States
Figure 2
Figure 2. Neuropathophysiology of Alzheimer's Disease
None
T.S. Dharmarajan
None
Srinivas G. Gunturu
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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