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Chapter 5 - Alzheimer’s Disease

from Section 2 - Diagnosing Different Types of Dementia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 October 2024

Simon Gerhand
Simon Gerhand
Affiliation:
Hywel Dda Health Board, NHS Wales
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Summary

This chapter looks at Alzheimer’s disease, the most common cause of dementia. Incidence and prevalence figures are reviewed, along with an explanation of the two abnormal proteins involved in the development of the disorder, and the ‘amyloid cascade’ hypothesis. Cognitive assessment of Alzheimer’s disease is considered in terms of where this fits within the diagnostic process and diagnostic criteria. The bulk of the chapter focuses on the typical form of Alzheimer’s disease, and the chapter concludes with discussion of some atypical variants, such as posterior cortical atrophy (PCA), logopenic primary progressive aphasia (lvPPA), and frontal variant.

Keywords

Alzheimer’sdementiaamyloidtaumemoryamnesiadiagnosiscognitionassessment
Type
Chapter
Information
The Neuropsychology of Dementia
A Clinician's Manual
 , pp. 59 - 73
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2024

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  • Alzheimer’s Disease
  • Simon Gerhand, Hywel Dda Health Board, NHS Wales
  • Book: The Neuropsychology of Dementia
  • Online publication: 25 October 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009025911.006
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  • Alzheimer’s Disease
  • Simon Gerhand, Hywel Dda Health Board, NHS Wales
  • Book: The Neuropsychology of Dementia
  • Online publication: 25 October 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009025911.006
Available formats
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To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Alzheimer’s Disease
  • Simon Gerhand, Hywel Dda Health Board, NHS Wales
  • Book: The Neuropsychology of Dementia
  • Online publication: 25 October 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009025911.006
Available formats
×