Naslov
Update on biological, social and economical aspect of Alzheimer's diasease and other dementia

Autori
MAJNARIĆ-TRTICA, LJILJANA

Izvornik
Periodicum biologorum (0031-5362) 111 (2009), 3; 381-388

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, pregledni rad, ostalo

Ključne riječi
Alzheimer's disease ; other dementia ; diagnosis ; patophysiology ; disease-modifying drugs ; socioeconomic aspect

Sažetak
Dementia is tipycally late-onset clinical condition with most cases developing in people aged 65 and more. It is characterized by a progressive decline in memory and other cognitive abilities, including at least one of the following: • an ability to generate coherent speech or understand spoken or written language • an ability to recognize or identify objects • an ability to execute motor activities, assuming intact motor function • an ability to think abstractly, make sound judgments and plans and perform complex tasks. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for approximately 2/3 of all cases of dementia. The rest includes, in almost equal proportions, vascular dementia and other types of dementia (Table 1). Although different types of dementia can be distinguished according to specific symptom patterns and microscopic brain abnormalities (on autopsy), there is a large range of overlap between them. This can further be complicated by coexisting medical conditions, such as depression and disorders of vascular origin, frequently occurring in people at advanced age. So, pure forms of dementia rarely exist and most cases reflect mixed underlying clinical conditions, but all result in progressive damaging of brain cells and more or less unique pathologic features. It is estimated that dementia affects more than 35 million people worldwide. This figure is predicted to be tripled in the forthcoming decades due to the aging of population. This will increase the financial burden for healthcare systems and communities, because dementia syndrome is, in its severe stage, characterized by progressive loss of functional independence. A need for increasing levels of supervision and personal care and possibly for nursing home placement, and ultimately, death in 4–10 years after the diagnosis is the natural course of a dementia syndrome (Figure 1). Whereas other major causes of death, such as heart disease, stroke, breast cancer and prostate cancer, are on the decrease, death attributed to Alzheimer's disease increases dramatically (47% increase between 2000 and 2006). This is why Alzheimer's disease and other dementia today represent one of the most urgent medical, social and economic challenges.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Kliničke medicinske znanosti

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