Overview: Management of Alzheimer's Disease

The full newsletter "Management of Alzheimer's Disease," prescribing information and CME self-assessment are free for both AMA members and non-members.

Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia, accounting for 60% to 80% of all dementias and affects approximately 5 million Americans.  A number of instruments exist for evaluating suspected cognitive impairment.  No single evaluation test may be appropriate for all clinical settings. Family member or caregiver input is valuable in assessment. The primary goals of therapy are to improve the quality of life and maximize functional performance by enhancing cognition and addressing mood and behavior symptoms. Alzheimer's disease patients should be offered treatment with the mnemoactive (memory enhancing) medications ChEIs and memantine.

In "Management of Alzheimer's Disease" physicians will learn:

• The proportion of the different cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) that are being prescribed for Alzheimer's disease patients.
• The relative use of memantine compared to the ChEI class of agents.
• The frequency of use of antidepressants, hypnotics and antipsychotic agents, over a one year period, in Alzheimer's disease patients.

The full newsletter will provide you further insights into the use of these agents through an evidence-based clinical case study.

View the full newsletter "Management of Alzheimer's disease" and learn how to receive CME credit. Newsletters are available to all physicians, not just AMA members.