[Suspected Alzheimer's disease. Selection of outpatients for neuropsychological assessment].
BACKGROUND
Incipient Alzheimer's disease (AD) is frequently suspected by neurologists and psychiatrists, but diagnosis is difficult to establish. The aim of this report was to analyse to what extent suspicion is confirmed by a comprehensive neuropsychological examination intended to distinguish different types of dementia.


METHODS
Descriptive data analysis was used for investigating the differential diagnoses of 47 outpatients with suspected AD referred to a department of neuropsychology by physicians in private practice. Data analysis was based upon the NINCDS-ADRDA diagnostic criteria of AD.


RESULTS
Only 38% of the outpatients examined with suspected AD met the NINCDS-ADRDA diagnostic criteria for AD or mixed dementia from a neuropsychological point of view, whereas 22% met criteria for other types of dementia. The remaining patients met criteria for distinct differential diagnoses (23%) or lacked pathological findings in neuropsychological functions (17%).


CONCLUSIONS
Neuropsychology is an essential part in the differential diagnosis of mild to moderate dementias. It can aid in differential therapeutic considerations concerning the treatment of dementia, for example in selecting appropriate treatments or avoiding expensive but inappropriate ones.
Wolf
S A
SA
Sektion Neuropsychologie der Klinik für Neurologie, Universitätsklinikum, Leipziger Strasse 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Deutschland. s.wolf@med.ovgu.de
Henry
M
M
Deike
R
R
Ebert
A D
AD
Wallesch
C-W
CW
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010348:Patient Care Team; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors