Alzheimer's Disease (AD) Concept Map: An Overview
Other Types of Dementia
Note that current medications do not cure AD or reverse its pathophysiologic process. They aims to symptomatically treat the cognitive difficulties and treat psychiatric and behavioral sequelae.
As shown in the image below, AD pharmacological treatment is divided up into:
Alzheimer's Disease is a gradually progressive dementia that is affecting cognition, behavior, and functional status.
This map links between the main points in AD including; clinical presentation, diagnosis, etiology and risk factors, pathophysiology, treatment and monitoring. And here are some parts of the map.
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| Part of AD concept map - Click to enlarge |
Other Types of Dementia
- Vascular dementia.
- Lewy body dementia
- Frontotemporal dementia
- Mixed dementia
Pathophysiology
This image shows part of the map explaining in a logical sequence the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease.
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| Part of AD Pathophysiology - Click to enlarge |
Pharmacological Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease
Note that current medications do not cure AD or reverse its pathophysiologic process. They aims to symptomatically treat the cognitive difficulties and treat psychiatric and behavioral sequelae.
As shown in the image below, AD pharmacological treatment is divided up into:
Treatment of Cognitive Difficulties
Using;
- Cholinesterase Inhibitors.
- Memantine.
Treatment of Psychiatric/ Behavioural Sequale (Non-cognitive Symptoms)
- Patients having symptoms that are interfering with function.
Includes; Antipsychotics, Antidepressants, and Anticonvulsants.
Each category is discussed thoroughly in the map.
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| Cholinesterase Inhibitors - Alzheimer's Disease |
Treatment of Psychiatric/ Behavioural Sequale (Non-cognitive Symptoms)
Only for:
- Aggressive patients.
- Patients who pose a danger to self or others.- Patients having symptoms that are interfering with function.
Includes; Antipsychotics, Antidepressants, and Anticonvulsants.
Each category is discussed thoroughly in the map.
This was just an overview. Now, you can download the whole map here.
We hope you find Alzheimer's Disease Concept Map helpful and we are looking forward to hearing your opinion.
Alzheimer's Disease Concept Map is written by: May Mehanna, MS, BCPS
Reviewed and edited by Maha Atef, B Pharm.
Last updated on: 23 April 2018
