| Alzheimer |
| Brain diseases |
| Research |
| Tau |
| APP |
| Abeta |
| VCDN group |
 |
| ALS/PDC Guam |
| AGD |
| Bri |
| CBD |
|
DLDH |
| DM1 |
| Down S |
| GSS |
| FTD |
| FTDP-17 |
| Huntington |
| Hallenvorden |
| IBM |
| Lewy BD |
| MSA |
| NPiD c |
| Parkinson D Guadeloupe |
| Parkinson |
| Dementia Êin ParkinsonÊ |
| Pick |
| Prion |
| PSP |
| PEP |
| Semantic ÊD |
|
SSP |
| Ê ToD |
The diagnoses of Alzheimer's disease
Clinical:
Because there are many diseases that can cause symptoms similar to Alzheimer's disease, a thorough medical evaluation is necessary to make a diagnosis:
- The evaluation for a probable diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease requires blood tests and often a brain neuroimaging procedure such as a computed tomography (CAT or magnetic resonance image (MRI) scan. However, there is no simple definite test to diagnose Alzheimer's disease.
- A definite diagnosis is only possible with an autopsy to identify the characteristic neurofibrillary tangles and neuritic plaques of degenerating neurons. These appear in the areas of the brain with important roles in memory, learning and intellectual functioning.
The course of Alzheimer's disease varies tremendously, but the average duration of the illness is 10 to 12 years. Unlike some diseases that can have remissions, Alzheimer's disease is always progressive.
Neuropathological : amyloid plaques and tangles in numerous brain areas. Consensus criteria of 1997.
Biological:
dosage of Abeta 42 peptide in the CSF: decreased in Alzheimer
dosage of total tau in the CSF: increased in Alzheimer
dosage of phospho tau in the CSF: increased in Alzheimer
see Van Mechelen et al
Genetic:
For 0.3% of all cases. 100 possible mutations (10 on APP genes, the other on PS1 and PS2 genes). See Campion et al