A Review on Alzheimer’s Disease

K. Durga Prasanna Roja, B. Kumar*, M. Gobinath
Department of Pharmacy Practice, Ratnam institute of Pharmacy, Pidthapolur, Nellore, A.P, India

A B S T R A C T
Alzheimer’s disease (AD), also known as Alzheimer disease, is the most common form of dementia. It is diagnosed in people over 65 years of age although the less-prevalent early-onset Alzheimer’s can occur in much younger people. Alzheimer’s disease is classified as a neurodegenerative disorder, the cause and progression of which are poorly understood. The disease process appears to be associated with plaques and tangles in the brain. The presence of characteristic neurological and neuropsychological features and the absence of alternative conditions are supportive. Advanced medical imaging with computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and with single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) or positron emission to mography (PET) can be used to help exclude other cerebral pathology or subtypes of dementia. Moreover, it may predict conversion from prodromal stages (mild cognitive impairment) to Alzheimer’s disease.
Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, SPECT, PET, MRI, CT.