Formulating a clinical practice care plan for the diagnosis and assessment of Alzheimer's disease.
Alzheimer's disease is a devastating neurological disorder characterized by cognitive deficits, functional impairment, and often troublesome behavioral symptoms. Unfortunately, Alzheimer's disease can be difficult to diagnose at early and even moderate stages of the disease. This article outlines simple, efficient strategies for identifying patients with potential dementia. The discussion focuses on the key components of a comprehensive assessment plan, which typically involves taking the patient's history, as well as conducting cognitive testing, laboratory testing, neurologic examination, and neuroimaging to evaluate patients for Alzheimer's disease. Finally, opportunities for the improvement of care are discussed, with an emphasis on overcoming barriers to diagnosis such as time limitations and reimbursement issues.
Faison
Warachal Eileen
WE
Institute for Research Minority Training on Mental Health and Aging, Medical University of South Carolina, 5900 Core Road, Ste. 203, N. Charleston, SC 29406, USA. faison@musc.edu
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000191:economics*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D007349:Insurance, Health, Reimbursement / Q000191:economics; D006278:Medicare / Q000191:economics; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D014481:United States