Clinical spectrum of Alzheimer's disease

master's thesis

• Author: Caroline Lucie Mouselli
• Mentor: Marina Boban (mentor)
• Committee member: Branko Malojčić (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Mario Habek (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Marina Boban (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; School of Medicine; (Department of Neurology); Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2014-07-15, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE; Clinical Medical Sciences; Neurology

Abstract

The incidence of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) increases exponentially with age.
Therefore, it becomes a major public health problem since the population is getting
older, and the cost of caring increases. Cognitive deficits in AD appear and progress
insidiously, but the rate of progression can vary. The average life expectancy has
been reported to be between three and eight years. Clinical assessment and
neuropsychological testing are necessary initial tools for the diagnosis of AD.
Memory impairment, specifically loss of episodic memory (memory of recent events),
is an essential feature of AD and is usually its first manifestation. Deficits in other
cognitive domains may appear with or after the development of memory impairment.
Language function and visuospatial skills tend to be affected relatively early, while
deficits in executive function and behavioural symptoms often manifest later in the
disease course. Neuropsychiatric and behavioural symptoms are common in middle
and late stages of AD. Noncognitive neurologic deficits (pyramidal and
extrapyramidal motor signs, myoclonus, and seizures) can occur in late stages of
AD, but are uncommon in early and middle stages. Atypical presentations of AD may
occur. These include a visual variant (posterior cortical atrophy), primary progressive
aphasia (PPA) and behavioural variant AD (bvAD). AD progresses through three
stages: an early, preclinical stage with no symptoms; a middle stage or mild
cognitive impairment (MCI); and a final stage marked by symptoms of dementia
(apparent AD). Diagnostic tests (basic laboratory tests and neuroimaging) are
performed initially to exclude other (treatable) causes. Recently discovered
biomarkers may help in early and differential diagnosis as well as prognosis of AD.

• Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; atypical; Mild cognitive impairment; diagnosis; biomarkers
• Language: english
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:105:028869
• Study programme: Title: Medicine (in English language); Study programme type: university; Study level: integrated undergraduate and graduate; Academic / professional title: doktor/doktorica medicine (doktor/doktorica medicine)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2015-11-20 09:49:23