Recognition and treatment of Alzheimer's disease: a case-based review

Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen. 2006 Mar-Apr;21(2):119-25. doi: 10.1177/153331750602100212.

Abstract

Early recognition and treatment initiation are pivotal in managing Alzheimer's disease (AD). Once a diagnosis of AD is made, a treatment plan is developed and should include treatment initiation with cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) to improve cognition, management of comorbid conditions, and treat behavioral symptoms. Caregiver compliance is integral to AD treatment success. The purpose of this report is to present two real case studies of "suspected" AD or related dementia and stress the significance of early and accurate diagnosis in disease management. In case 1, a caregiver reports gradual but progressive loss of memory, and the patient himself complains of memory impairment. Neuroimaging analysis confirms "typical " AD. In case 2, initiation of ChEI therapy is followed by substantial clinical improvement in the face of a complex medical picture, and neuroimaging revealing more neurodegenerative changes than could be accounted for by "pure" AD.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Alzheimer Disease / diagnosis*
  • Alzheimer Disease / drug therapy*
  • Antiparkinson Agents / therapeutic use
  • Atrophy
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain / pathology
  • Carbidopa / therapeutic use
  • Caregivers
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Donepezil
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Indans / therapeutic use
  • Levodopa / therapeutic use
  • Lewy Body Disease / diagnosis
  • Lewy Body Disease / drug therapy
  • Male
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Piperidines / therapeutic use
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Vitamin E / therapeutic use
  • Vitamins / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Antiparkinson Agents
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors
  • Indans
  • Piperidines
  • Vitamins
  • Vitamin E
  • Levodopa
  • Donepezil
  • Carbidopa