Neurológia pre prax 3/2011

Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment: diagnosis and treatment

Early recognition of the dementia syndrome is the most important part in the diagnostics of Alzheimer‘s disease. It is followed by determination of Alzheimer‘s disease as the most likely cause of it. A clinical transitional state between the normal ageing and dementia is referred to as mild cognitive impairment. The auxiliary diagnostic methods are not only used to rule out other causes of dementia, but they can directly support the diagnosis of Alzheimer‘s disease. The clinical trials have proved that current drugs slow the progression of the disease. We can use acetylcholinesterase inhibitors for treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer‘s disease, whereas severe stages of the disease are treated by memantin – NMDA receptor partial antagonist.

Keywords: Alzheimer‘s disease, mild cognitive impairment, dementia, diagnostics, biomarkers, therapy.