BEHAVIORAL ABNORMALITIES IN ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE

Fundamental and therapeutic research into Alzheimer's disease (AD) ini tially focused on cognitive aspects. However, AD also frequently invol ves complex affective and behavioral disorders, which are currently gr ouped under the heading Behavioral and Psychological Signs and Symptom s of Dementia (BPSSD), BPSSD further handicap the patient in his or he r daily activities and are a major source of problems for the family a nd other carers. Studies of these aspects must take into account vario us clinical aspects such as the development of reliable tools for asse ssment and diagnosis. BPSSD can only be understood on the basis of neu roanatomical and neurochemical findings, i.e. the link between the dys function of cortical-subcortical regions and networks and the onset of a particular behavioral disorder. Finally, therapeutic research must go beyond simple adaptation of an adult treatment protocol to affected elderly subjects by learning more about the different neurotransmitte r systems in Alzheimer's disease.