CURRENT DIAGNOSTIC METHODS AND OUTCOME VARIABLES FOR CLINICAL INVESTIGATION OF ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE

The diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is done by a careful history , requiring reliable informants and serial observations. The main diff erential diagnosis is depression, delirium, and inappropriate use of p sychotropic drugs. Other common causes of dementia such as vascular, L ewy body disease, frontal lobe degeneration, can be distinguished by t he pattern of symptoms and findings on the physical examination. A min imal amount of laboratory investigation is usually required. The natur al history of AD, with progressive involvement of cognition, activitie s of daily living and behaviour, justifies the need of outcome variabl es addressing these specific symptomatic domains. These are complement ed by global clinical assessment tools for disease staging and disease progression. A new challenge is to select from outcome variables used in clinical investigations the most appropriate tools for regular cli nical practice.