Alzheimer's disease

Background

Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia worldwide. It is characterized by a progressive loss of memory functions and limitations of other cognitive domains such as speech, reading, arithmetic, orientation and also visual processing. Neuropathologically, the disease is characterized by the extracellular deposition of amyloid beta peptides, an inflammatory reaction of local immune cells and the appearance of neurofibrillary bundles.

In addition to the clinical limitations described above, Alzheimer's disease is characterized by a decrease in brain volume, reduced glucose elution and a specific pattern of neurodegeneration-associated biomarkers in the cerebrospinal fluid. Alzheimer's disease is predominantly inherited sporadically (sAD, >95% of cases) and less frequently autosomal dominant (fAD, <5% of cases). Recent studies suggest that Alzheimer's disease does not begin with the onset of memory impairment, but decades earlier.

Clock Draw

The clock test: quick test in cognitive disorders for testing visuoconstruction.

Diagnostics, counseling and therapy

Therefore, there are also a variety of factors that influence the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. Factors that increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's include middle-aged obesity, lack of physical exercise, nicotine consumption, craniocerebral trauma, diabetes mellitus type II, systemic infections, arterial hypertension, and others. Avoiding these negative, so-called "lifestyle factors" can significantly reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. Even in patients who already suffer from Alzheimer's disease, adjusting the above-mentioned factors can have a positive effect on the course of the disease.

It is our goal to provide our patients with the best possible treatment in addition to a reliable diagnostic clarification. For this reason, we offer our patients a comprehensive clarification of dementia development, which includes detailed neuropsychological testing, cerebral imaging by means of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), liquor-biochemical examination of the cerebrospinal fluid, long-term blood pressure examination, electroencephalography, extra- and transcranial Doppler and duplex sonography of blood vessels supplying the brain, and the determination of functional parameters of parenchymatous organs and the immune system with reference to dementia (e.g., the immune system, the immune system, the brain, the brain, the brain and the brain). e.g. anti-neuronal antibodies), is included.

In addition to the existing drugs already approved for therapy, such as the NMDA receptor antagonist memantine and the acetylcholinesterase blockers (rivastigmine, donepezil, galantamine), new, targeted therapies are currently undergoing the approval process or are still being tested in clinical trials. Our patients receive individual consultation and a therapy plan tailored to their needs, which takes into account pharmacological as well as non-pharmacological interventions, such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy. On request, participation in clinical studies with new, promising causal therapeutic drugs can be tested in clinical trials.