- Section 1 Ageing population and policy
- Section 2 Key concepts in care of older adults
- Section 3 Principles and organization of care
- Section 4 Age-related biological changes, altered physiology, and vulnerability to diseases and chronic conditions
- Section 5 Geriatric syndromes in clinical practice
- Section 6 Nutrition and metabolism
- Section 7 Mobility disorders: prevention, impact, and compensation
- Section 8 Infections in older adults: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 9 Cancer: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 10 Vascular diseases: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 11 Neurological disorders: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 12 Cognitive decline and dementia in older adults: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Chapter 121 Normal cognition and ageing: structure, function, and cognitive reserve
- Chapter 122 Epidemiology of Alzheimer’s disease: a relevant challenge for long-term follow-up of a population-based cohort
- Chapter 123 Cognitive impairment—risk factors and prevention
- Chapter 124 Neuropsychological evaluation of cognition
- Chapter 125 Mild cognitive impairment
- Chapter 126 The diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease: assessment and criteria
- Chapter 127 Assessment and diagnosis of the non-Alzheimer dementias
- Chapter 128 Pharmacological interventions in mild cognitive impairment and dementia
- Chapter 129 Non-pharmacologic behavioural activity interventions to prevent dementia
- Chapter 130 Management of comorbidities in dementia patients
- Chapter 131 Evidence-based management of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia
- Chapter 132 Caregivers in dementia: role and empowerment
- Chapter 133 A new model of care for patients with dementia: the Japanese initiative for dementia care
- Section 13 Mental health of older adults
- Section 14 Management of common medical conditions: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 15 Palliative medicine and end-of-life care
- Section 16 Healthy ageing
(p. 987) Assessment and diagnosis of the non-Alzheimer dementias
- Chapter:
- (p. 987) Assessment and diagnosis of the non-Alzheimer dementias
- Author(s):
Chiadi U. Onyike
- DOI:
- 10.1093/med/9780198701590.003.0127
Non-Alzheimer dementias are commonly distinguished from Alzheimer disease by younger age at onset (midlife or earlier), positive family history, and presentations characterized by non-amnesic cognitive deficits, psychiatric states (such as depression, compulsions, paranoia, and hallucinations) and motor dysfunctions (like parkinsonism, ataxia, and apraxia). Missed diagnosis is a common problem, with the conditions being mistaken for psychiatric or movement disorder. Timely diagnosis depends on methodical examinations that characterize the chronology and tempo of key symptoms, family history, and neurological features, and brain images that reveal telltale patterns of atrophy or dysfunction. Genetic, blood, and CSF assays, and EEG are indicated where family history is positive or illness progression rapid. As non-Alzheimer dementias pose many clinical and psychosocial problems, optimal care requires a multidisciplinary team, empowered carers, and leverage of community resources. The latest discoveries in neuroimaging, particularly amyloid-PET, tau-PET, and clinical genetics, promise improvements in diagnostics and new therapeutic opportunities.
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- Section 1 Ageing population and policy
- Section 2 Key concepts in care of older adults
- Section 3 Principles and organization of care
- Section 4 Age-related biological changes, altered physiology, and vulnerability to diseases and chronic conditions
- Section 5 Geriatric syndromes in clinical practice
- Section 6 Nutrition and metabolism
- Section 7 Mobility disorders: prevention, impact, and compensation
- Section 8 Infections in older adults: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 9 Cancer: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 10 Vascular diseases: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 11 Neurological disorders: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 12 Cognitive decline and dementia in older adults: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Chapter 121 Normal cognition and ageing: structure, function, and cognitive reserve
- Chapter 122 Epidemiology of Alzheimer’s disease: a relevant challenge for long-term follow-up of a population-based cohort
- Chapter 123 Cognitive impairment—risk factors and prevention
- Chapter 124 Neuropsychological evaluation of cognition
- Chapter 125 Mild cognitive impairment
- Chapter 126 The diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease: assessment and criteria
- Chapter 127 Assessment and diagnosis of the non-Alzheimer dementias
- Chapter 128 Pharmacological interventions in mild cognitive impairment and dementia
- Chapter 129 Non-pharmacologic behavioural activity interventions to prevent dementia
- Chapter 130 Management of comorbidities in dementia patients
- Chapter 131 Evidence-based management of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia
- Chapter 132 Caregivers in dementia: role and empowerment
- Chapter 133 A new model of care for patients with dementia: the Japanese initiative for dementia care
- Section 13 Mental health of older adults
- Section 14 Management of common medical conditions: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 15 Palliative medicine and end-of-life care
- Section 16 Healthy ageing