GCR: Alzheimer's Disease

This Disease Specific Site primarily incorporates recommendations from three practice guidelines and a consensus statement on Alzheimer's Disease:

AAN Guidelines 2001
Consensus Statement of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, the Alzheimer's Association, and the American Geriatrics Society on Diagnosis and Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) Guidelines
The Agency for Health Care Research and Quality (AHCRQ) Guidelines

Diagnosis and Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders: Consensus Statement of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, the Alzheimer's Association, and the American Geriatrics Society

Consensus Statement

A consensus conference on the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer disease (AD) and related disorders was organized by the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, the Alzheimer's Association, and the American Geriatrics Society in January of 1997. The panel members and presenters were recruited from diverse disciplines - psychiatry, neurology, geriatrics, primary care, psychology, nursing, social work, occupational therapy, epidemiology, and public health and policy were represented. The data from the world scientific literature on AD was summarized for the following questions:

How prevalent is AD and what are its risk factors?
What is the impact of AD on society?
What are the different forms of dementia and how can they be recognized?
What constitutes safe and effective treatment for AD? What are the indications and contraindications for specific treatments?
What management strategies are available to the primary care practitioner?
What are the available medical specialty and community resources?
What are the important policy issues and how can policymakers improve access to care for dementia patients?
What are the most promising questions for future research?

The consensus panel reached the following conclusions

Alzheimer disease is the most common disorder causing cognitive decline in old age and exacts a substantial cost on society.
Although the diagnosis of AD is often missed or delayed, it is primarily one of inclusion, not exclusion, and usually can be made using standardized clinical criteria.
Most patients can be diagnosed and managed in primary care settings, yet more complex patients can benefit from specialist referral.
- Pharmacologic therapies for cognitive impairment and non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic treatments for the behavioral problems associated with dementia can enhance quality of life
- Psychotherapeutic intervention with family members is often indicate
Health care delivery to person diagnosed with AD is fragmented. Innovative approaches are needed to ensure patients' access to essential resources.
Future research should aim to improve diagnostic and therapeutic effectiveness.