Alzheimer's disease: a review of clinical assessment and management issues.
As the population of the United States ages, the prevalence of dementia is increasing. Among dementing illnesses, Alzheimer's disease (AD) is by far the most common and increasingly can be diagnosed accurately by informant-based clinical methods alone. Symptomatic therapies are now available for the treatment of the cognitive symptoms of AD, and more drugs are in development. Noncognitive aspects of dementia include behavioral complications, safety and security issues, advance directives, and caregiver burden. These should be addressed and appropriately managed by physicians. An expanded role for primary care physicians is anticipated for the assessment and management of AD.