Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of acquired dementia. The biggest risk factor for the development of AD is age, and with increasing longevity a feature of modern healthcare, the prevalence of dementia and most particularly AD is set to double over the next 20 years. The disease is characterized most commonly by memory, language, and executive dysfunction although other presentations such as visuospatial dysfunction, agnosia, and behavioral disturbance are common in younger onset and familial forms. The pathology is a unifying feature and much progress has been made in understanding the pathogenesis such that therapeutic intervention to truly modify the disease is only a matter of time.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Further Reading
Blennow, K., De Leon, M. J., Zetterberg, H. (2006) Alzheimer’s disease. Lancet, 368, 387–403.
Cummings, J. L., Mega, M., Gray, K., et al. (1994) The Neuropsychiatric Inventory: comprehensive assessment of psychopathology in dementia. Neurology, 44, 2308–14.
Dubois, B., Feldman, H. H., Jacova, C., et al. (2007) Research criteria for the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease: revising the NINCDS-ADRDA criteria. Lancet Neurol, 6, 734–46.
Fratiglioni, L., Paillard-Borg, S., Winblad, B. (2004) An active and socially integrated lifestyle in late life might protect against dementia. Lancet Neurol, 3, 343–53.
Gallagher, D., Ni Mhaolain, A., Coen, R, et al. (2010) Detecting prodromal Alzheimer’s disease in mild cognitive impairment: utility of the CAMCOG and other neuropsychological predictors. Int J Ger Psych, (In press) Int J Ger Psych, 25, 1280-87.
Hampel, H., Burger, K., Teipel, S. J., et al. (2008) Core candidate neurochemical and imaging biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimers Dement, 4, 38–48.
Harold, D., Abraham, R., Hollingworth, P., et al. (2009) Genome wide association study identifies variants at CLU and PICALM associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Nat Genet, 41, 1088–93.
Herrmann, N. & Lanctot, K. L. (2007) Pharmacologic management of neuropsychiatric symptoms of Alzheimer disease. Can J Psychiatry, 52, 630–46.
Jack, C. R., Jr., Knopman, D. S., Jagust, W. J., et al. (2010) Hypothetical model of dynamic biomarkers of the Alzheimer’s pathological cascade. Lancet Neurol, 9, 119–28.
Kivipelto, M., Ngandu, T., Laatikainen, T., et al. (2006) Risk score for the prediction of dementia risk in 20 years among middle aged people: a longitudinal, population-based study. Lancet Neurol, 5, 735–41.
Mckhann, G., Drachman, D., Folstein, M., et al. (1984) Clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease: report of the NINCDS ADRDA Work Group under the auspices of Department of Health and Human Services Task Force on Alzheimer’s Disease. Neurology, 34, 939–44.
Salloway, S., Mintzer, J., Weiner, M. F. & Cummings, J. L. (2008) Disease modifying therapies in Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimers Dement, 4, 65–79.
Snowden, D. (2002) Aging with Grace: the Nun Study and the Science of Old Age. How We Can Live Longer, Healthier, and More Vital Lives. London: Fourth Estate.
Winblad, B., Palmer, K., Kivipelto, M., et al. (2004) Mild cognitive impairment—beyond controversies, towards a consensus: report of the International Working Group on Mild Cognitive Impairment. J Intern Med, 256, 240–6.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2011 Springer-Verlag London Limited
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Gallagher, D.J., Mhaolaín, A.N., Sperling, R.A., Lawlor, B.A. (2011). Alzheimer’s Disease. In: Hardiman, O., Doherty, C. (eds) Neurodegenerative Disorders. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84996-011-3_3
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84996-011-3_3
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-84996-010-6
Online ISBN: 978-1-84996-011-3
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)