[Strategies for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The 'ad continuum' concept].
The patient with dementia suffers a chronic disorder, with no specific treatment and little therapeutic response, which is accompanied by high co morbidity and additional complications which cause multiple symptoms which limit the patient s autonomy still further, modify the environment and create progressive dependence. Thus, from all angles, approach is very difficult both in seeking the cause and in prevention and also for treatment. The objective of this review is to establish the guidelines for treatment in view of the long term course of the disorder, in accordance with the specific weight and intensity of symptoms from the onset of the illness by means of precise diagnosis of the deficits and control of the commonest disorders which occur over time, such as psycho affective, psychotic, sleep disorders or treatment of a state of confusion and control of the diseases which are most frequent in this population. Finally, we briefly analyze the health care and social requirements of these patients and suggest general recommendations for carers to improve management, classifying the states of dementia into three degrees of severity.
Boada Rovira
M
M
Servicio de Neurologia, Hospital General Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain. 7287mbr@comb.es
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D018697:Nootropic Agents