Alzheimer's disease: psychopathology, medical management and dental implications.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The authors review the clinical features, epidemiology, pathophysiology, medical management, dental findings and dental treatment of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD).

STUDIES REVIEWED:

The authors conducted MEDLINE searches for 2000 through 2005 using the terms "Alzheimer's disease," "geriatric," "epidemiology," "pathophysiology," "treatment" and "dentistry." Reports selected for further review included those published in English in peer-reviewed journals. The authors gave preference to articles reporting randomized, controlled trials.

RESULTS:

AD is a progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive dysfunctions, particularly in learning and memory, and the emergence of behavioral abnormalities. Deficiencies in the cells responsible for storage and processing of information underlie the cognitive, functional and behavioral changes seen in patients with the disorder.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS:

As the elderly population grows, increasing numbers of Americans with AD will require dental treatment. The prevalence of dental disease likely will be extensive, because of diminished salivary flow and patients' inability to perform appropriate oral hygiene techniques. Preventive dental education for the caregiver and use of saliva substitutes and anticaries agents by the patient are indicated.

• Authors: Arthur H Friedlander, Dean C Norman, Michael E Mahler, Keith M Norman, John A Yagiela
• Journal: Journal of the American Dental Association (1939) (J Am Dent Assoc) Vol. 137 Issue 9 Pg. 1240-51 (Sep 2006) ISSN: 0002-8177 [Print] England
• PMID: 16946428 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Antipsychotic Agents
• Dopamine Agents
• Nootropic Agents

Topics

• Age of Onset
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Alzheimer Disease (complications, diagnosis, drug therapy)
• Antipsychotic Agents (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Dental Care for Chronically Ill (methods)
• Disease Progression
• Dopamine Agents (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Mouth Diseases (etiology)
• Nootropic Agents (therapeutic use)