So far, in Viet Nam, there aren't systematic research on the role of psychological and imaging tests for diagnosis of AD. Objectives: To study the role of brain MMSE and CT findings in diagnosis of AD. Methods: 35 patients with AD were diagnosed according to criteria of ICD.10 and DSM.4; Descriptive, prospective and followed up investigation was applied. Results: MMSE could be used for all patients (100%), MMSE scores coresponded with dementia severity. Reduction in scores more than 3 points per year presented in 93.3%. On CT, general atrophy of brain presented in 100% patients, temporal lobe atrophy was seen in 65.7% of patients. The difference of brain atrophy level has been significant at all patients after 2.5 to 3 years follow up. Conclusion: MMSE was considered as appropriate test to measure dementia severity and to define AD. On CT, great speed of brain atrophy after 2.5 to 3 years follow up could confirm diagnosis of AD.
Alzheimer Disease ; Tomography ; Brain ; Diagnosis

BACKGROUND: The conventional electroencephalography (EEG) is commonly used as an aid in the diagnosis of Alzhiemer's disease (AD). Recently developed quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) provides data that are not achievable by conventional EEG. Nevertheless, the clinical reliability and usefulness of spectral analysis and topographic mapping is still a matter of controversy in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. The aim of this study was to compare the topographical quantitative EEG (qEEG) changes between elderly controls and AD patients. METHODS: We analyzed the absolute, relative spectra power and occipital peak frequency taken from 16 derivations by averaging twenty-2-sec epoch in elderly controls and AD patients. After logarithmic transformations of absolute and relative power, a statistical test was done and occipital peak frequency was compared with each other. RESULTS: (1) Compared with normal controls, AD patients had a significantly lower alpha and beta spectra power as well as a significant higher delta spectra power. (2) In AD patients, the peak frequency in occipital lead had a significantly lower frequency than that of elderly controls. (3) Korean Mini-Mental State Examination(K-MMSE) scores were closely related in delta and alpha band power in nearly all electric leads. (4) Compared to absolute power, relative power was a more sensitive tools in detecting changes of EEG in AD patients. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that qEEG is a useful tool for detecting the electroencephalographic changes of AD, and correlated with the severity of cognitive dysfunction. Moreover, absolute and relative spectra power is complementary in the clinical utility of qEEG.
Aged ; Alzheimer Disease* ; Diagnosis ; Electroencephalography ; Humans

As modern society ages rapidly, the number of people with dementia is sharply increasing. Direct medical costs and indirect social costs for dementia patients are also increasing exponentially. However, the lack of social awareness about dementia results in difficulties to dementia patients and their families. So, understanding dementia is the first step to remove or reduce the stigma of dementia patients and promote the health of our community. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia. The term, ‘Alzheimer's disease’ has been used for over 100 years since first used in 1910. With the remarkable growth of science and medical technologies, the techniques for diagnosis and treatment of dementia have also improved. Although the effects of the current symptomatic therapy are still limited, dramatic improvement is expected in the future through the continued research on disease modifying strategies at the earlier stage of disease. It is important to look at the past to understand the present and obtain an insight into the future. In this article, we review the etymology and history of dementia and previous modes of recognizing dementia. We also review the historical developments leading to the terminology of Alzheimer's disease.
Alzheimer Disease* ; Dementia ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Terminology as Topic

Alzheimer Disease/diagnosis* ; Biomarkers ; Electroencephalography ; Humans ; Sleep

Alzheimer Disease/diagnosis* ; Cognitive Dysfunction ; Disease Progression ; Humans ; Neuroimaging

Depression is one of the most common psychiatric complications of Alzheimer disease (AD), affecting from 30% to 50% of prevalence, with most estimates in the 20-30% range. Because of having a presentation in the context of AD that differs from typical early-onset depression, it is not easy one to detect and quantify reliably, and can be difficulty to differentiate depression from the other neuropsychiatric symptoms of AD. Due to the lack of large randomized trials, optimal treatment and the true degree of efficacy remains undetermined. However, these treatments can reduce adverse impact of depression on patients and caregivers. This article provides a practical discussion of the diagnosis, evaluation, differential diagnosis and treatment of depression in AD for the clinician.
Alzheimer Disease* ; Caregivers ; Depression* ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Prevalence

BACKGROUND: The evaluation of behavioral and psychological symptoms (BPSD) is important for the diagnosis and management of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Previous studies have reported the prevalence and severity of BPSD changes. However, these studies have mainly focused on the AD patients with mild to moderate severity. Our study investigated the BPSD in AD patients with more advanced stages and looked at the prevalence and severity of BPSD with the progression of disease. METHODS: One hundred thirty six patients with probable AD received the Korean version of the neuropsychiatric inventory along with the expanded version of the Korean Clinical Dementia Rating Scale (CDR) and the Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE). RESULTS: The mean K-MMSE, CDR and NPI scores were 10.1 (SD=7.1), 2.0 (SD=1.5) and 32.7 (SD=26.2), respectively. CDR and K-MMSE scores did not correlate with the total NPI score but did correlate with some of the subscale NPI scores. Apathy had the highest relationship to CDR (r=0.39, p<0.01). Aberrant motor was most correlated with the total score of NPI (r=0.65, p<0.01). The mean number of positive NPI items was 4.3, which ranged from 2.1 (CDR 5 group) to 5.4 (CDR 2 group). The most frequent symptom was apathy and the least was euphoria. The severity of BPSD increased as the dementia severity increased to CDR 2 except apathy. Night-time behavior and anxiety were frequent in the early stages whereas apathy and aberrant motor were frequent symptoms in later stages. CONCLUSIONS: These observations suggest that BPSD is relatively independent of cognitive functions. The prevalence and severity of BPSD with the exclusion of apathy, increased as the dementia severity increased from CDR 0.5 to CDR 2 and then declined declined except apathy.
Alzheimer Disease* ; Anxiety ; Apathy ; Dementia ; Diagnosis ; Euphoria ; Humans ; Prevalence

PURPOSE: To generate a Korean specific brain template, especially in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) by optimizing the voxel-based analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three-dimensional T1-weighted images were obtained from 123 subjects who were 43 cognitively normal subjects and patients with 44 mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and 36 AD. The template and the corresponding aprior maps were created by using the matched pairs approach with considering differences of age, gender and differential diagnosis (DDX). We measured several characteristics in both our and the MNI templates, including in the ventricle size. Also, the fractions of gray matter and white matter voxels normalized by the total intracranial were evaluated. RESULTS: The high resolution template and the corresponding aprior maps of gray matter, white matter (WM) and CSF were created with the voxel-size of 1 x 1 x 1 mm. Mean distance measures and the ventricle sizes differed between two templates. Our brain template had less gray matter and white matter areas than the MNI template. There were volume differences more in gray matter than in white matter. CONCLUSION: Gray matter and/or white matter integrity studies in populations of Korean elderly and patients with AD are needed to investigate with this template.
Aged ; Alzheimer Disease ; Brain ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Mild Cognitive Impairment

Behavioral problems are thought to be pervasive and devasting to patients with dementia of the Alzheimer's type and their families. Despite this, little empirical data are available concerning the nature of such impairments, their rate of occurrence or their relationship to the disease process. This study was designed to investigate the nature and the rates of behavioral disturbance among DAT patients. The subjects involved in this study were 72 patients who were hospitalized and had primary diagnosis of dementia of the Alzheimer's type. Severity of the dementia was assessed by MMSE, and abnormal behavior by E-BEHAVE-AD. Pearson correalation was used to analysis data. The subjects were divided into mild/moderate dementia group and severe, and then evaluated significant differences. Independent-samples T-test was used to analysis data. The results were as follows: 1) Wandering and delusional ideation were associated with declining MMSE score 2) Wandering was only differenciated between mild to moderate group. In conclusion, problems found associated with level of impairment such as wandering and delusion are thought to be characteristic of the disease and therefore predictable. Problems found not associated with level of impairment, are likely to be idiosyncratic. The former should probably be incorporated into education and intervention programs, the latter addressed as needed on an individual basis.
Alzheimer Disease* ; Delusions ; Dementia* ; Diagnosis ; Education ; Humans ; Psychopathology*

Behavioral problems are thought to be pervasive and devasting to patients with dementia of the Alzheimer's type and their families. Despite this, little empirical data are available concerning the nature of such impairments, their rate of occurrence or their relationship to the disease process. This study was designed to investigate the nature and the rates of behavioral disturbance among DAT patients. The subjects involved in this study were 72 patients who were hospitalized and had primary diagnosis of dementia of the Alzheimer's type. Severity of the dementia was assessed by MMSE, and abnormal behavior by E-BEHAVE-AD. Pearson correalation was used to analysis data. The subjects were divided into mild/moderate dementia group and severe, and then evaluated significant differences. Independent-samples T-test was used to analysis data. The results were as follows: 1) Wandering and delusional ideation were associated with declining MMSE score 2) Wandering was only differenciated between mild to moderate group. In conclusion, problems found associated with level of impairment such as wandering and delusion are thought to be characteristic of the disease and therefore predictable. Problems found not associated with level of impairment, are likely to be idiosyncratic. The former should probably be incorporated into education and intervention programs, the latter addressed as needed on an individual basis.
Alzheimer Disease* ; Delusions ; Dementia* ; Diagnosis ; Education ; Humans ; Psychopathology*