Alzheimer's disease natural history, complications and prognosis
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
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Overview
The early stages of Alzheimer's disease are difficult to diagnose. A definitive diagnosis is usually made once cognitive impairment compromises everyday activities, although the person may still be living independently. People with Alzheimer's disease progress from mild cognitive problems, such as memory loss, through increasing stages of cognitive and non-cognitive disturbances, eliminating any possibility of independent living.[1]
Life expectancy of the population with the disease is reduced.[2][3][4] The mean life expectancy following diagnosis is approximately seven years.[2] Fewer than 3% of patients live more than fourteen years.[5] Disease features significantly associated with reduced survival are an increased severity of cognitive impairment, decreased functional level, history of falls, and disturbances in the neurological examination. Other coincident diseases such as heart problems, diabetes or history of alcohol abuse are also related with shortened survival.[3][6][7] While the earlier the age at onset the higher the total survival years, life expectancy is particularly reduced when compared to the healthy population among those who are younger.[4] Men have a less favourable survival prognosis than women.[5][8] Pneumonia and dehydration are the most frequent immediate causes of death, while cancer is a less frequent cause of death than in the general population.[2][8]
References
- ↑ Förstl H, Kurz A (1999). "Clinical features of Alzheimer's disease". European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience. 249 (6): 288–90. PMID 10653284. Retrieved 2012-08-16.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Bowen JD, Malter AD, Sheppard L; et al. (1996). "Predictors of mortality in patients diagnosed with probable Alzheimer's disease". Neurology. 47 (2): 433–9. PMID 8757016. Unknown parameter
|month=ignored (help) - ↑ 4.0 4.1 Dodge HH, Shen C, Pandav R, DeKosky ST, Ganguli M (2003). "Functional transitions and active life expectancy associated with Alzheimer disease". Arch. Neurol. 60 (2): 253–9. PMID 12580712. Unknown parameter
|month=ignored (help) - ↑ 5.0 5.1
- ↑ Larson EB, Shadlen MF, Wang L; et al. (2004). "Survival after initial diagnosis of Alzheimer disease". Ann. Intern. Med. 140 (7): 501–9. PMID 15068977. Unknown parameter
|month=ignored (help) - ↑ Jagger C, Clarke M, Stone A (1995). "Predictors of survival with Alzheimer's disease: a community-based study". Psychol Med. 25 (1): 171–7. PMID 7792352. Unknown parameter
|month=ignored (help) - ↑ 8.0 8.1 Ganguli M, Dodge HH, Shen C, Pandav RS, DeKosky ST (2005). "Alzheimer disease and mortality: a 15-year epidemiological study". Arch. Neurol. 62 (5): 779–84. doi:10.1001/archneur.62.5.779. PMID 15883266. Unknown parameter
|month=ignored (help)