Clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease

TLDR

Alzheimer’s disease is diagnosed clinically by insidious onset of progressive memory and cognitive decline, with no early motor or sensory deficits, and laboratory tests are used only to rule out other causes while neuropsychological testing confirms dementia. The proposed criteria aim to guide diagnosis of probable, possible, and definite Alzheimer’s disease and will be updated as more definitive information becomes available.

Abstract

Clinical criteria for the diagnosis of Alzheimer9s disease include insidious onset and progressive impairment of memory and other cognitive functions. There are no motor, sensory, or coordination deficits early in the disease. The diagnosis cannot be determined by laboratory tests. These tests are important primarily in identifying other possible causes of dementia that must be excluded before the diagnosis of Alzheimer9s disease may be made with confidence. Neuropsychological tests provide confirmatory evidence of the diagnosis of dementia and help to assess the course and response to therapy. The criteria proposed are intended to serve as a guide for the diagnosis of probable, possible, and definite Alzheimer9s disease; these criteria will be revised as more definitive information becomes available.