title: Forensic medicine evaluation of Alzheimer patients: a series from Ankara, Turkey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pathophysiological changes due to Alzheimer disease and increasing age might result in situations requiring forensic evaluation in the elderly. Judicial bodies might need forensic evaluation of trauma and the decision-making capacity of Alzheimer patients. This study aimed to determine the demographic and clinical characteristics of Alzheimer patients seen for forensic evaluation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forensic records issued by the Department of Forensic Medicine of Hacettepe University in 2012 and 2013 were investigated. Patients with Alzheimer disease were included in the study and were analyzed in terms of age, sex, reason for application, comorbid medical conditions, occupation, and place and status of living.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 30 Alzheimer patients examined in the study period. Of these, 17 (56.6%) were male and 13 (43.3%) were female. The patients' ages ranged between 51 and 90 years, and the mean age was 78.7 years. The majority of cases (25, 83.3%) were transferred for evaluation of decision-making capacity, while only 5 (17.7%) were referred to our department for forensic reporting of bodily damage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Forensic reporting of bodily damage in Alzheimer patients is similar to common injury cases. However, in conditions requiring evaluation of decision-making capacity in Alzheimer patients, all records should be carefully examined and a complete neuropsychiatric evaluation should be performed.
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cavlak
authors.forename: Ramazan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Akçan
authors.forename: Ali Riza
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Tümer
authors.forename: Aysun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Balseven Odabaşi
authors.forename: Aykut
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lale
authors.forename: Mahmut Serif
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Yildirim
authors.forename: Eyüp Ruşen
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Heybet
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016743:Mental Competency / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014421:Turkey