02

https://doi.org/10.22364/lmahc.fd.24.02 | 20-30 | PDF

Diagnostic Challenges of Alzheimer’s Disease in Clinical Practice

Zanda Priede, Sintija Strautmane
​​​​​​​Rīga Stradiņš University

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. Together with other dementias, it is the 7^th leading cause of death worldwide. AD is a chronic, neurodegenerative disorder, usually affecting people after the age of 65. There are no pathognomonic signs, furthermore, the beginning of AD is very insidious. Most frequently, AD starts with memory impairment, speech difficulties, difficulties to orientate oneself in space, changes in patient’s behaviour and personality, which result in patient becoming bedridden. Diagnostics is still challenging, however, with development of technologies, there is a hope to diagnose the disorder as soon as possible to provide optimal quality of life for the patient.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, neurodegenerative disorder, memory, behaviour

From: Balode, Ineta; Lele-Rozentāle, Dzintra; Priede, Zanda (compilers and scientific editors). Linguistic and Medical Aspects in Health Care. Focus on Dementia. Riga: University of Latvia Press, 2024.