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Major or Mild Neurocognitive Disorder Due to Alzheimer Disease

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Geriatric Psychiatry

Abstract

Major or mild neurocognitive disorder (NCD) due to Alzheimer disease is an acquired cognitive decline with an insidious onset and gradual progression. Major and mild NCDs exist on a spectrum of cognitive and functional impairment. A decline in one or more cognitive domains, along with a concern about cognition on the part of the patient, a knowledgeable informant, or the clinician, and performance on an objective assessment that falls below the expected level or that has been observed to decline over time represent core features of major or mild NCD. The cognitive impairment is commonly accompanied, and occasionally preceded, by neuropsychiatric symptoms, described as deterioration in emotional control, social behavior, or motivation, which are described elsewhere. This chapter reviews the diagnostic guidelines, typical and atypical clinical presentations, differential diagnosis, and treatment considerations in Alzheimer-related NCD.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada

    Ana Hategan

  2. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA

    Glen L. Xiong

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  1. Ana Hategan
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  2. Glen L. Xiong
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Correspondence to Ana Hategan .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

    Ana Hategan

  2. Baylor Scott and White Department of Psychiatry, Texas A&M University College of Medicine, Temple, Texas, USA

    James A. Bourgeois

  3. Division of General Medicine, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California, USA

    Calvin H. Hirsch

  4. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California, USA

    Caroline Giroux

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Hategan, A., Xiong, G.L. (2018). Major or Mild Neurocognitive Disorder Due to Alzheimer Disease. In: Hategan, A., Bourgeois, J., Hirsch, C., Giroux, C. (eds) Geriatric Psychiatry. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-67555-8_18

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