May You Live Amidst Interesting Dichotomies—From Manifest Behavior to Molecular Biology

Extract

Research and practice amidst interesting dichotomies — such is the state of psychogeriatrics in the 1990s — a field that reflects interesting dichotomies, though often in a complementary manner. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a case in point. Discoveries at the molecular level and in understanding neurobiological phenomena in AD have generated enormous scientific excitement and public hope about potential breakthroughs; findings involving chromosome 14, the amyloid precursor protein, synaptic changes, the tau protein, and the like are increasing chances of cracking the mystery that surrounds the etiology of AD. Meanwhile, neither cause nor cure is known. However, it would be incorrect to say there is no treatment for AD. While there are no treatments that can reverse or stop the progression of the disorder, there are a number of interventions that can alleviate many of the behavioral symptoms that compound the course of the disorder. These behavioral problems contribute significantly to excess disability in AD; treating these behavioral symptoms can alleviate patient suffering, improve patient coping at that point in time, and reduce family burden. Hence, while research on the molecular biology of AD offers hope for tomorrow, attention to the manifest behavioral problems of the disorder contributes to improved management today (Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry, 1988).