Hostname: page-component-745bb68f8f-g4j75 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-01-12T11:49:58.931Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Formulating a Clinical Practice Care Plan for the Diagnosis and Assessment of Alzheimer's Disease

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 November 2014

Warachal Eileen Faison
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease is a devastating neurological disorder characterized by cognitive deficits, functional impairment, and often troublesome behavioral symptoms. Unfortunately, Alzheimer's disease can be difficult to diagnose at early and even moderate stages of the disease. This article outlines simple, efficient strategies for identifying patients with potential dementia. The discussion focuses on the key components of a comprehensive assessment plan, which typically involves taking the patient's history, as well as conducting cognitive testing, laboratory testing, neurologic examination, and neuroimaging to evaluate patients for Alzheimer's disease. Finally, opportunities for the improvement of care are discussed, with an emphasis on overcoming barriers to diagnosis such as time limitations and reimbursement issues.

Type
Academic Supplement
Information
CNS Spectrums , Volume 10 , Issue S18: Alzheimer's Disease Pathways to Practice: Assessing Diagnosis and Outcome Measures , November 2005 , pp. 10 - 12
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2005

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1.McDowell, I. Alzheimer's disease: insights from epidemiology. Aging (Milano). 2001;13:143–162.Google Scholar
2.Lyketsos, CG, Steele, C, Baker, L, et al.Major and minor depression in Alzheimer's disease: prevalence and impact. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 1997;9:556–561.Google Scholar
3.Teri, L, Ferretti, LE, Gibbons, LE, et al.Anxiety of Alzheimer's disease: prevalence, and comorbidity. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 1999;54:M348–M352.Google Scholar
4.Sano, M. A guide to diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. CNS Spectr. 2004;9(suppl 5):16–19.Google Scholar
5.McKhann, G, Drachman, D, Folstein, M, et al.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. 1984;34:939–944.Google Scholar
6.Gambert, SR. Is it Alzheimer's disease? Postgrad Med. 1997;101:42–52.Google Scholar
7.Folstein, MF, Folstein, SE, McHugh, PR. “Mini-mental state”. A practical method for grading the cognitive state of patients for the clinician. J Psychiatr Res. 1975;12:189–198.Google Scholar
8.Sunderland, T, Hill, JL, Mellow, AM, et al.Clock drawing in Alzheimer's disease. A novel measure of dementia severity. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1989;37:725–729.Google Scholar
9.Borson, S, Brush, M, Gil, E, et al.The Clock Drawing Test: utility for dementia detection in multiethnic elders. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 1999;54:M534–M540.Google Scholar
10.Cefalu, C, Grossberg, GT. Diagnosis and Management of Dementia. American Family Physician Monograph, No. 2. Leawood, Kan: American Academy of Family Physicians; 2001.Google Scholar
11.Fillit, H, Geldmacher, DS, Welter, RT, Maslow, K, Fraser, M. Optimizing coding and reimbursement to improve management of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2002;50:1871–1878.Google Scholar
12.International Classification of Diseases. 9th Revision, Clinical Modification. Los Angeles, CA: Practice Management Information Corporation; 2000.Google Scholar
13.Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Medicare Claims Processing Manual. May 6, 2005, Rev 556. Available at: https://www.cms.hhs.gov/manuals/104_claims/clm104c12.pdf. Accessed October 12, 2005.Google Scholar