Dementia (Late Alzheimer Disease)
OBJECTIVES
To discuss diagnosis of dementia.
To discuss treatment of Alzheimer disease.
To discuss treatment of the behavioral manifestations of Alzheimer disease.
VIGNETTE
An 85-year-old man had a 3-year history of gradually progressive memory loss.
CASE SUMMARY
This 85-year-old man had progressive memory loss. His wife had troubles caring for him and became concerned that her husband started wandering out of the house. He also had a history of a right frontal lobe infarct associated with a right internal carotid artery occlusion and bilateral postural hand tremors. He initially received donepezil, but it was subsequently discontinued as his wife felt it was ineffective. He also received low-dose levetiracetam for probable multifocal myoclonus. For mild depression he was given mirtazapine and later escitalopram.