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From the Department of Neurology (Dr. Knopman), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry (Dr. DeKosky), University of Pittsburgh, PA; Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Science (Dr. Cummings), University of California at Los Angeles; Department of Neurology (Dr. Chui), University of Southern California, Los Angeles; Department of Neurosciences (Dr. Corey–Bloom), University of California at San Diego; Department of Neurology and Neuroscience (Dr. Relkin), New York Presbyterian–Weill Cornell Medical College; Neuropsychiatric Institute and Hospital (Dr. Small), University of California at Los Angeles; Department of Neurology (Dr. Miller), University of California at San Francisco; Lutheran Medical Office (Dr. Stevens), Fort Wayne, IN.
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Article Abstract |
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 Top. Article Abstract Introduction.Process.Practice recommendations.Recommendations for future...AppendixReferences |
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BACKGROUND: The AAN previously published a practice parameter on dementia in 1994. New research and clinical developments warrant an update of some aspects of diagnosis.
METHODS: Studies published in English from 1985 through 1999 were identified that addressed four questions: 1) Are the current criteria for the diagnosis of dementia reliable? 2) Are the current diagnostic criteria able to establish a diagnosis for the prevalent dementias in the elderly? 3) Do laboratory tests improve the accuracy of the clinical diagnosis of dementing illness? 4) What comorbidities should be evaluated in elderly patients undergoing an initial assessment for dementia?
RECOMMENDATIONS: Based on evidence in the literature, the following recommendations are made. 1) The DSM-III-R definition of dementia is reliable and should be used (Guideline). 2) The National Institute of Neurologic, Communicative Disorders and Stroke–AD and Related Disorders Association (NINCDS-ADRDA) or the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 3rd edition, revised (DSM-IIIR) diagnostic criteria for AD and clinical criteria for Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (CJD) have sufficient reliability and validity and should be used (Guideline). Diagnostic criteria for vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, and frontotemporal dementia may be of use in clinical practice (Option) but have imperfect reliability and validity. 3) Structural neuroimaging with either a noncontrast CT or MR scan in the initial evaluation of patients with dementia is appropriate. Because of insufficient data on validity, no other imaging procedure is recommended (Guideline). There are currently no genetic markers recommended for routine diagnostic purposes (Guideline). The CSF 14-3-3 protein is useful for confirming or rejecting the diagnosis of CJD (Guideline). 4) Screening for depression, B12 deficiency, and hypothyroidism should be performed (Guideline). Screening for syphilis in patients with dementia is not justified unless clinical suspicion for neurosyphilis is present (Guideline).
CONCLUSIONS: Diagnostic criteria for dementia have improved since the 1994 practice parameter. Further research is needed to improve clinical definitions of dementia and its subtypes, as well as to determine the utility of various instruments of neuroimaging, biomarkers, and genetic testing in increasing diagnostic accuracy.
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Introduction. |
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Background and justification. Dementia is a common disorder in the elderly, involving as many as 10% of those over 65 years of age. The AAN previously published a practice parameter on dementia in 1994,1 and since that time many new clinical and research developments have occurred. The purpose of the current practice parameter is to highlight and to update major areas of current interest and investigation in the diagnosis of dementia in the elderly. It is not intended to serve as a comprehensive review of the differential diagnosis of dementia.
Clinical question statement. The Diagnosis of Dementia Committee reviewed the issues, problems, and challenges related to the diagnosis of dementia. Based on work that has been published since 1994, the Committee formulated four questions to be addressed in the practice parameter:
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Literature review process. A literature search was conducted using MEDLINE, Excerpta Medica, and BIOSIS. The search included articles published from January 1985 through November 1999. The search strategy sought only studies published in English and studies on human disease. The principal search term was dementia. Other terms entered into the search included neuroimaging, diagnostic techniques, diagnostic imaging, biologic markers, CSF, diagnostic errors, differential diagnosis, and neuropsychologic tests. The original search yielded 1,175 articles of which approximately 300 articles were identified as relevant to our search questions. For articles on AD, we included only those based on more than 25 patients. For the less common dementias there was no minimal sample size. An additional 300 articles not identified by the literature search strategy, including ones published after the initial search was conducted, were submitted by committee members or obtained from bibliographies of articles identified in the search.
Each article was classified based on the quality of evidence (Class I through IV, table 1). After review of the evidence, recommendations were drafted, reviewed by all committee members, and identified as a Practice Standard, Guideline, or Option ( table 2). When appropriate, data on specificity, sensitivity, and other numerical measures of diagnostic precision were extracted from the articles and placed in tables. Final inclusion of articles in this Practice Parameter was based on consensus of the Committee that they were relevant and informative in consideration of the four questions.
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Analysis of the evidence. Are the current criteria for the diagnosis of dementia reliable? The diagnostic formulations of dementia that are the most widely used in North America are based on definitions contained in the National Institute of Neurologic, Communicative Disorders and Stroke–AD and Related Disorders Association (NINCDS-ADRDA) Work Group,2 the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 3rd edition, revised (DSM-IIIR),3 and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 4th edition (DSM-IV).4 The DSM-IIIR states:
The essential feature of Dementia is impairment in short- and long-term memory, associated with impairment in abstract thinking, impaired judgment, other disturbances of higher cortical function, or personality change. The disturbance is severe enough to interfere significantly with work or usual social activities or relationships with others. The diagnosis of Dementia is not made if these symptoms occur. . .in Delirium. . .3
The DSM-IIIR definition of dementia has good to very good reliability (kappa’s ranging from 0.5 to 0.9).5-7 The closely related NINCDS-ADRDA and DSM-IV definitions of dementia have not been subjected to assessment of reliability.
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Are current diagnostic criteria able to establish a diagnosis for the prevalent dementias? Alzheimer’s disease. The reliability of the diagnosis of AD is moderate (generalized kappa’s in the 0.51 to 0.73 range) in Class II studies.8-10 When standardized clinical diagnostic criteria are used, interrater reliability6 and consistency of diagnosis between the initial visit and 1-year follow-up is high (95% in Forette11).
There are 13 studies, 3 Class I12-14 and 10 Class II,9,15-22 that have addressed the diagnostic accuracy of the clinical diagnosis of AD using neuropathologic confirmation as the "gold standard." Both the DSM-IIIR "Dementia of the Alzheimer type" (DAT) and the NINCDS-ADRDA "probable" AD definitions achieved either good sensitivity (average across cited studies = 81%, range 49 to 100%) for AD at the expense of specificity (average across cited studies = 70%, range 47 to 100%) or vice versa in the majority of the cited studies. A diagnosis of "possible" AD achieved very high sensitivity (average across 4 studies = 93%, range 85 to 96%) but at the price of specificity (average across 4 studies = 48%, range 32 to 61%),13,14,17,22 reflecting the many features that non-AD dementias share with AD.
Vascular dementia (VAD). Four criteria for vascular dementia that are currently used include the State of California AD Diagnostic and Treatment Centers criteria (the "California" criteria),23 the National Institute of Neurologic Disorders and Stroke and the Association Internationale pour la Recherche et l’Enseignement en Neurosciences (NINDS-AIREN) criteria,24 the Hachinski Ischemic Score (HIS) as modified by Rosen,25,26 and those found in DSM-IV.4 In studies that compared clinical diagnoses and neuropathologic findings, the NINDS-AIREN and the California criteria (as well as DSM-IIIR) had very low sensitivity but higher specificity. Only one Class I study12 reported the sensitivity (43%) and specificity (95%) of a published criteria, NINDS-AIREN, for VAD. Four Class II studies with patient samples drawn from referral cohorts15-17,27,28 reported sensitivity and specificity of the diagnosis of vascular dementia with any criteria. With one exception, their results had the same diagnostic accuracy as the population-based studies, with low sensitivity (average across 5 studies = 50%, range 20 to 89%) but higher specificity (average across 5 studies = 87%, range 64 to 98%) for the HIS, DSM-IIIR, NINDS-AIREN, or California clinical criteria. A retrospective (Class II) study27 in which the HIS showed better sensitivity and specificity (both 89%) was the one analysis of six in which the diagnosis of vascular dementia appeared both sensitive and specific.
Recent neuropathologic analyses12,14 offer a perspective on the difficulty in correctly diagnosing cerebrovascular pathology in dementia. Rather than considering vascular dementia as simply present or absent, these studies distinguished between "some or any" vascular lesions versus "pure" vascular pathology, i.e., the circumstance in which vascular pathology was both sufficient to account for cognitive symptoms and unaccompanied by other pathology. Some vascular pathology exists in 29 to 41% of dementia cases coming to autopsy in population-based cohorts, even though pure vascular pathology accounted for dementia in only 9 to 10%.12,14 The Hachinski Ischemic Score, while lacking neuroimaging criteria, may be more suitable for identifying the majority of dementia patients with vascular dementia, i.e., those with at least some cerebrovascular pathology,27 because of the low sensitivity of the NINDS-AIREN and California criteria.12,15-17,28
Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). DLB has been defined clinically by the presence of dementia, gait/balance disorder, prominent hallucinations and delusions, sensitivity to traditional antipsychotics, and fluctuations in alertness.29 Two Class II studies evaluated the interrater reliability of the diagnosis of DLB based on the Consortium for DLB diagnostic criteria29 and found it to be relatively low.10,30
One Class I study12 investigated the diagnostic accuracy of DLB criteria against neuropathologic findings and found that sensitivity was low (22%) but specificity (100%) was high. Five Class II studies also showed low sensitivities (average across 5 studies = 58%, range 34 to 75%) but higher specificities (average across 5 studies = 87%, range 71 to 94%) for the diagnostic criteria of Consortium for DLB.10,30-33 In a prospective clinical study based on a DLB case registry with neuropathologically confirmed cases, hallucinations, depression, delusions, and delusional misidentification were all significantly higher in patients with DLB than AD.34 However, all of these features occurred in patients with AD as well. The presence of visual hallucinations and delusional misidentification as early symptoms showed sensitivities and specificities of >50% but <75%. In another study, the clinical diagnosis of DLB was confirmed in only 5 of 10 cases at postmortem examination.35 The lack of specificity of the DLB clinical diagnosis appeared attributable to an equivalent amount of spontaneous extrapyramidal disturbance between the five cases with DLB at autopsy and the five without DLB at autopsy (four with AD, one with progressive supranuclear palsy).35
Prominent deficits in attention, profound deficits in visuo-constructional skills, and relative sparing of memory are the neuropsychologic features of DLB.36,37 However, neuropsychologic tests do not reliably differentiate DLB from either AD or VAD.37 Similarly, even though patients with DLB show less temporal lobe atrophy on MRI than do patients with AD38 and more hypoperfusion in the occipital lobes,39 neuroimaging has not proven successful in differentiating DLB from AD.
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD). FTD is less common than AD, VAD, or DLB,14,17,40 particularly in very elderly dementia cohorts. An autopsy-based Class II study (using retrospective clinical diagnoses determined from review of medical records) showed that most patients with FTD fulfill diagnostic criteria for AD.41 In contrast, a Class II study without autopsy confirmation42 found that the Lund-Manchester criteria43 (an earlier version of the Consensus diagnostic criteria for FTD44) differentiated 100% of FTD and AD patients. Early loss of personal awareness, early loss of social awareness, hyperorality, and stereotyped, perseverative behavior were somewhat sensitive (63 to 73%) and highly specific (97 to 100%) for differentiating the two conditions.42
Neuropsychologic test profiles of patients with FTD typically reveal deficits on frontal systems tasks, including verbal fluency, abstraction, and executive function.45 Using discriminant analysis, one study found that the FAS word fluency test was the instrument that best differentiated FTD from AD.46 Although it has been suggested that tests of constructional ability differ significantly between FTD and AD,43 this is not always the case.46 Some patients with AD demonstrate substantial executive deficits;47 hence neither the clinical nor neuropsychologic profile of the frontotemporal syndrome is specific for FTD. There are no clinical features that are useful for establishing either the histologic subtype of FTD or linkage to tau mutations.
Prion diseases. Until recently, diagnosis of Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (CJD) disease rested on clinical symptoms, the characteristic electroencephalographic pattern of periodic sharp wave complexes and the pathologic examination of brain tissue. The diagnostic criteria for CJD were tested in a prospective, Class I study48 in which 188 autopsy-confirmed cases (97%) were identified of 193 cases diagnosed with "probable" CJD based on criteria of Masters et al.49 In this same cohort, among 54 cases diagnosed with "possible" CJD, the diagnosis was confirmed in 44 (81%). Only 2 pathologically diagnosed CJD cases were found among 111 patients who had been given other clinical diagnoses. Brown et al.50 proposed a simplified diagnostic scheme that has not been subjected to prospective study but is very similar to that used by Poser et al.48
Conclusions. The criteria of probable AD has good sensitivity for neuropathologic AD but less optimal specificity. The clinical phenotypes embodied in the diagnostic criteria for VAD, DLB, and FTD do not map precisely onto neuropathologic phenotypes. Although there are strong clinical-pathologic relationships for these disorders in the majority of patients, there are many patients with atypical or nonspecific clinical presentations. The clinical phenotype of CJD is more tightly linked to its expected CJD pathology.
Practice recommendations.
Do laboratory tests improve the accuracy of clinical diagnosis of dementing illness? Structural neuroimaging for differential diagnosis. Since the previous practice parameter on dementia,1 one additional Class II study51 has addressed structural imaging in the diagnostic evaluation of patients with dementia. The study51 found that 5% of patients had a clinically significant structural lesion but no features in the history or examination that would have predicted the lesions. Other Class II studies that have examined the decision to order a brain imaging study on clinical history and examination alone have shown imperfect precision, although specificity and sensitivity may be approximately 90%.52,53 Given the goal of minimal undetected structural lesions, the data supports the use of a neuroimaging examination—either a noncontrast CT or MR scan—under most circumstances at the time of the initial dementia assessment to identify pathology such as brain neoplasms or subdural hematomas. A third condition, normal pressure hydrocephalus, which might be detected by CT or MR and might be responsive to treatment is very rare.54
Quantitative imaging to diagnose AD. Only one prospective (Class I) study of quantitative computed tomographic imaging was found that used autopsy-confirmed diagnosis as the diagnostic standard.55 Among 86 autopsied cases, a minimum width of the medial temporal lobe falling below the 5th percentile was 95% sensitive but only 40% specific for AD.
Several Class II studies without neuropathologic confirmation of the diagnosis have reported the utility of medial temporal lobe atrophy, particularly hippocampal or entorhinal atrophy, for the clinical diagnosis of AD.56,57 In differentiating clinically diagnosed AD (NINCDS-ADRDA criteria) from elderly normal controls, the sensitivity of various medial temporal atrophy measures on CT58 or MRI59-62 ranged from 77 to 92%, with specificities ranging from 49 to 95%. Automated volumetric techniques with MRI were most reliable but are currently labor-intensive and not widely available. There are no studies that have determined the added value of measurements of hippocampal or entorhinal volume once a clinical diagnosis of AD has been made. The range of estimates suggests that measurement of hippocampal atrophy by MRI may not be useful in clinical practice because of its low precision.
Combining medial temporal measures with other potentially informative markers, such as functional neuroimaging58 or apolipoprotein E genotyping, may improve diagnostic accuracy.63 Determination of the rate of change of hippocampal atrophy64 may also be of value diagnostically but is unlikely to be of use in clinical practice. Prediction of subsequent AD in individuals without dementia has also been attempted with MRI of the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex,65,66 but that is beyond the scope of this parameter.
Functional neuroimaging.
SPECT and AD.
Based on Class II studies, the sensitivity of SPECT was lower than that of the clinical diagnosis.58,67 In a single prospective study, when specificity was set at 89% overall sensitivity was 43%.67 Sensitivity increased as the severity of dementia worsened, but the pretest probability of AD also became higher.68,69 The added value of SPECT was greatest for a positive test among patients with mild dementia in whom there was substantial doubt about the diagnosis of AD (e.g., prior probability between 30 and 50%).68 In this situation, a positive SPECT would have increased the posttest probability of AD by 30%, whereas a negative test result would have increased the likelihood of no AD by only 10%. Higher sensitivity (77 to 86%) and specificity (90 to 94%) have been reported using automated and quantitative methods for SPECT analysis.70,71
To assess the value of SPECT in the differential diagnosis of dementia, we identified two SPECT studies (Class I) with autopsy-confirmed diagnoses in a large number of subjects.55,72 For the differentiation of AD versus non-AD dementia, hypoperfusion in the temporal–parietal lobe(s) was reported to be 86 to 95% sensitive and 42 to 73% specific. Although encouraging, these figures are not consistently better than those obtained by diagnosis with established clinical criteria.
PET and AD.
The largest series of dementia cases who underwent PET scans and also had autopsy confirmation was reported in a Class II study73 that included 22 patients with various types of dementia (64% AD). In this study, visual interpretations of PET scans, which have high interrater reliability,74 yielded a sensitivity of 93% and a specificity of 63%.
A direct comparison (Class II) of FDG-PET and HMPAO-SPECT in their ability to differentiate AD from vascular dementia indicated higher diagnostic accuracy for PET regardless of dementia severity.75 Using receiver–operator characteristic curves, SPECT diagnostic accuracy was 62.9% for Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score >20 and 81.2% for MMSE score <20. For PET, diagnostic accuracy was 87.2% for MMSE score >20 and 100% for MMSE score <20. Other Class II studies confirmed a lower sensitivity for high-resolution SPECT compared with PET.76 FDG-PET appears superior to MRI measures of hippocampal atrophy because changes in cerebral glucose metabolism antedate the onset of memory decline whereas the MRI hippocampal changes do not.77
PET scanning appears to have promise for use as an adjunct to clinical diagnosis, but further prospective studies with PET are needed to establish the value that it brings to diagnosis over and above a competent clinical diagnosis.
SPECT, PET, and FTD.
SPECT and PET may be helpful in distinguishing FTD from AD. Many patients with FTD show hypoperfusion of anterior cerebral cortex with relative sparing of posterior cortex with SPECT78-80 and PET.81 In these four Class II studies, the highly selected study participant pool makes it difficult to generalize on the reported specificities and sensitivities. In patients with cognitive or behavioral deficits suggestive of FTD, no studies addressed what additional value a SPECT or PET scan provides.
Genetic biomarkers. No studies have addressed the value of genetic counseling for patients with dementia or their families when autosomal dominant disease is suspected. Because the genetics of dementing illnesses is a very young field, expertise in genetic counseling for the dementias of the elderly is likely to be found only in specialized dementia research centers. Advances in the identification of genetic markers for AD and other dementias have raised awareness of the familial nature of the dementias, even when autosomal dominant transmission is not evident.
AD and genetic risks.
In a large neuropathologically confirmed cohort of patients with dementia, the use of apolipoprotein E4 slightly increased the positive predictive value of the AD diagnosis (Class II).18 These authors showed that relative to the neuropathologic diagnosis of AD, the sensitivity of the clinical diagnosis of AD was 92%, whereas sensitivity of having at least one APOE E4 allele was only 65%. However, in patients with clinical diagnoses of AD, the addition of APOE testing increased the positive predictive value (using the prevalence of AD in this dementia autopsy series) of a diagnosis of AD by approximately 4% (from 90 to 94%) if an APOE E4 allele was present. In patients with a clinical diagnosis of non-AD, the absence of an APOE E4 allele increased the negative predictive value by 8% (from 64 to 72%).
FTD and genetic risks.
A relatively high prevalence of tau mutations was found in a Dutch population (17.8% of all FTD cases and 40.3% of all familial FTD cases).82 In contrast, no tau mutations were found in a large U.S. clinical non-AD dementia sample.83 The yield of diagnostic and prognostic information from screening of sporadic cases of suspected FTD for the known mutations of the tau gene is likely to be very low.
DLB and genetic risks.
There are no clinically relevant associations between any genetic markers and DLB.
CJD and genetic risks.
Although familial CJD has been linked to a number of different mutations in the prion gene,84 and a polymorphism at one codon has been shown to be more common in sporadic CJD,85,86 there is no evidence currently that genetic analysis of the prion gene is of value in the diagnosis of suspected CJD.
CSF markers. Since the publication of the previous practice parameter, we encountered no new published studies that addressed the issue of routine versus selective CSF analysis in the evaluation of a patient with dementia. However, since 1994, there has been intense interest in developing markers related to the neuropathology of AD in CSF.
CSF ß-amyloid1-42.
Reduced levels of ß-amy-loid1-42 in CSF of patients with AD compared with normal elderly controls have been observed repeatedly in Class II and III studies.87-90 Using post-hoc cut-points, moderate sensitivities (78 to 92%) and specificities (81 to 83%) have been achieved in distinguishing patients with AD from normal elderly controls.87-89 It is unclear whether CSF levels of ß-amyloid1-42 retain diagnostic usefulness in patients with very mild AD.91
CSF tau.
CSF tau level was shown to be significantly elevated in patients with AD compared with normal controls in Class II and III studies.92-95 CSF tau distinguished AD from normal controls with 80 to 97% sensitivity and 86 to 95% specificity. However, elevated CSF tau level has also been detected in patients with other neurodegenerative diseases.92 CSF tau levels may be useful in supporting a diagnosis of AD early in the course of dementia.93,95 Although sensitivity and specificity of CSF tau measurements appear very good, there are no studies that determine the benefits of CSF tau over a good clinical diagnosis.
CSF ß-amyloid1-42 and tau.
The diagnostic yield may be improved by the simultaneous measurement of CSF ß-amyloid1-42 and tau. In Class II and III studies, sensitivities of 85% and specificities of 87% have been reported.88-90 Additional studies are needed to establish the value that the combined use of these markers brings to diagnosis over and above a competent clinical diagnosis.
CSF AD7C-NTP.
Although specificities of 89 and 94% have been cited for CSF AD7C protein in early AD and possible or probable AD versus demented controls, patient selection and characterization in the studies96-98 lacked scientific rigor. A recent Class II study with better methodology99 showed that CSF AD7C-NTP had a specificity of 87% and a sensitivity of 70%.
CSF 14-3-3 protein and neuron-specific enolase.
An immunoassay for the detection of the 14-3-3 protein in CSF has been described100 that had a specificity of 99% and a sensitivity of 96% for the diagnosis of CJD among patients with dementia who had not had a stroke within one month of testing. A large German national surveillance study (Class I) of CJD also reported a sensitivity of 94%, specificity of 93%, and positive predictive value of 95% for 14-3-3 CSF assay.101 In this same population, the CSF 14-3-3 protein assay was superior to EEG or MR in identifying cases of CJD.48 However, other acute neurologic conditions such as stroke, viral encephalitis, and paraneoplastic neurologic disorders can provide false positive results.100-103 A negative 14-3-3 immunoassay does not rule out CJD.104 The additional use of neuron-specific enolase does not appear to substantially improve diagnostic accuracy.105
Other biomarkers. No other biomarkers that had been extensively studied and had promising detection abilities for AD or other dementias were uncovered in the literature search.
Conclusions. The CSF 14-3-3 protein assay is useful for confirming the diagnosis of CJD. In contrast, no laboratory tests have yet emerged that are appropriate for routine use in the clinical evaluation of patients with suspected AD. Several promising avenues—genotyping, imaging and biomarkers—are being pursued, but proof that a laboratory test has value is arduous. Ultimately, the putative diagnostic test must be administered to a representative sample of patients with dementia who eventually have pathologic confirmation of their diagnoses. A valuable test will be one that increases diagnostic accuracy over and above a competent clinical diagnosis.
Practice recommendations.
What comorbidities should be screened for in elderly patients undergoing an initial assessment for dementia? The prior Practice parameter1 recommended a number of laboratory tests (including complete blood count, serum electrolytes, glucose, blood urea nitrogen/creatinine, folate, B12, thyroid function, and syphilis serology) as routine assessment in patients undergoing assessment for dementia. Since that time, no studies were identified that evaluated these recommendations. However, since 1994, several studies have been published that specifically addressed the diagnostic value of vitamin B12 levels, thyroid function analysis, and syphilis screening. No studies were identified that addressed the utility of such tests as 24-hour urine collection for heavy metals or serum toxicology screens.
Depression. Prospective studies show that individuals with depression and coexistent cognitive impairment are highly likely to have an underlying dementia on longitudinal follow-up.106-111 In one of the studies,110 nearly 12% of patients with dementia were also depressed. Validated instruments for screening for depression exist, such as the Geriatric Depression Scale, short form,112 the Centers for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale,113 and the Hamilton Depression Scale.114
Vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 deficiency is common in the elderly.115 Reports of improvement in cognitively impaired individuals with B12 deficiency are equivocal.116-119 Patients with B12 deficiency have had slightly lower cognitive performance than nondeficient subjects,120 but low vitamin B12 levels in nondemented subjects carried no risk for the subsequent development of dementia.121 The number of patients with dementia caused by B12 deficiency states has been very small in prevalence studies122 or meta-analyses of clinic samples.123,124 Diagnostic algorithms for refined diagnoses of vitamin B12 deficiencies have been published.125
Thyroid functions. Hypothyroidism is common in the elderly.126-128 Nondemented patients with hypothyroidism had lower mental status test scores, word fluency, visuospatial abilities, and learning than euthyroid controls,129 but two other studies128,130 found no relationship between TSH and cognitive function. The vast majority of patients with clinically significant hypothyroidism in these studies128-130 lacked dementia. On the other hand, elevated TSH levels carried an increased risk for dementia in a population-based study.131 In dementia prevalence studies122 and clinic sample meta-analyses,123,132 there were only a very small number of patients with dementia attributable to hypothyroidism, which was either partially or completely reversed with treatment of hypothyroidism.
Other common metabolic abnormalities possibly associated with dementia. Other metabolic disturbances are also sometimes included in the differential diagnosis of dementia. In the series of Clarfield123 and Weytingh,124 hypoparathyroidism and hepatic encepha-lopathy were mentioned as illnesses that with treatment resulted in complete resolution of dementia.
Tests for syphilis. There are only a few areas in the United States, mainly in the southern tier of the country and in some regions of the Midwest, with high numbers of syphilis cases.133 Thirty-one U.S. counties account for 50% of all reported cases of primary and secondary syphilis.133 Within the last 20 years, there have been no reported cases of tertiary syphilis in any of the incidence134-138 or prevalence122,135,139-145 studies conducted in North America. Except in these high-incidence regions, screening for the disorder in patients with dementia without an increased pretest probability would appear to be ill-supported because positive serum Venereal Disease Research Laboratory, rapid plasma reagin, and fluorescent treponemal antibody tests are nonspecific.146,147
Conclusions. Depression, B12 deficiency, and hypothyroidism are comorbidities that are likely to appear in the elderly and in patients with suspected dementia in particular. Although treatment of these disorders may not completely reverse cognitive dysfunction, they should be recognized and treated. No new evidence has appeared since 1994 to support or refute the recommendation to perform "routine" blood tests in patients being evaluated for dementia.
Practice recommendations.
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Biomarkers for AD and other dementias are critically needed, and the validation of these markers will require cross-sectional studies and longitudinal, population-based studies with diagnosis confirmation at autopsy. If a goal of therapy for patients with dementia is to intervene before the disease has diminished cognitive function, imaging techniques or biomarkers must be capable of detecting AD pathology in asymptomatic individuals. The same consideration applies to DLB and FTD pathology. Even if a biomarker does not substantially enhance diagnostic precision in symptomatic patients, a biomarker with high sensitivity and specificity for a particular dementing disorder in symptomatic patients is one that could be of use in presymptomatic detection. The genomic identification of specific dementias and risk of their development offer prospects for future research.
Disclaimer. This statement is provided as an educational service of the American Academy of Neurology. It is based on an assessment of current scientific and clinical information. It is not intended to include all possible proper methods of care for a particular neurologic problem or all legitimate criteria for choosing to use specific procedures. Neither is it intended to exclude any reasonable alternative methodologies. The AAN recognizes that specific patient care decisions are the prerogative of the patient and the physician caring for the patient, based on all the circumstances involved.
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Acknowledgments |
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Footnotes |
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The appointment of authors for this guideline was done in cooperation with the Alzheimer’s Association and overlaps significantly with the membership of the Medical and Scientific Advisory Council and the Board of Directors of the association. The Alzheimer’s Association agrees with the content of this paper in all important regards.
This guideline has been endorsed by the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses and the American Geriatrics Society.
Approved by the AAN Quality Standards Subcommittee, November 11, 2000. Approved by the AAN Practice Committee January 6, 2001. Approved by the AAN Board of Directors February 24, 2001.
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 Z. S. Tan, A. Beiser, R. S. Vasan, R. Au, S. Auerbach, D. P. Kiel, P. A. Wolf, and S. Seshadri Thyroid Function and the Risk of Alzheimer Disease: The Framingham Study Arch Intern Med, July 28, 2008; 168(14): 1514 - 1520. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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S. Saddichha and V. Pandey Alzheimer's and Non-Alzheimer's Dementia: A Critical Review of Pharmacological and Nonpharmacological Strategies American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias, May 1, 2008; 23(2): 150 - 161. [Abstract] [PDF]
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 P. Raina, P. Santaguida, A. Ismaila, C. Patterson, D. Cowan, M. Levine, L. Booker, and M. Oremus Effectiveness of Cholinesterase Inhibitors and Memantine for Treating Dementia: Evidence Review for a Clinical Practice Guideline Ann Intern Med, March 4, 2008; 148(5): 379 - 397. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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I. M. Hajjar, M. Keown, P. Lewis, and A. Almor Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors and Cognitive and Functional Decline in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease: An Observational Study American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias, March 1, 2008; 23(1): 77 - 83. [Abstract] [PDF]
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P. J. Modrego, C. Rios, J. M. Perez Trullen, J. M. Errea, M. J. Garcia-Gomara, and S. Sanchez The Cerebrovascular Pathology in Alzheimer's Disease and Its Influence on Clinical Variables American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias, March 1, 2008; 23(1): 91 - 96. [Abstract] [PDF]
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S. Kloppel, C. M. Stonnington, C. Chu, B. Draganski, R. I. Scahill, J. D. Rohrer, N. C. Fox, C. R. Jack Jr, J. Ashburner, and R. S. J. Frackowiak Automatic classification of MR scans in Alzheimer's disease Brain, March 1, 2008; 131(3): 681 - 689. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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 D. Dormont, D.J. Seidenwurm, and for the Expert Panel on Neurologic Imaging Dementia and Movement Disorders AJNR Am. J. Neuroradiol., January 1, 2008; 29(1): 204 - 206. [Full Text] [PDF]
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 B. C. Dickerson, R. A. Sperling, B. T. Hyman, M. S. Albert, and D. Blacker Clinical Prediction of Alzheimer Disease Dementia Across the Spectrum of Mild Cognitive Impairment Arch Gen Psychiatry, December 1, 2007; 64(12): 1443 - 1450. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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S L PIMLOTT and K P EBMEIER SPECT imaging in dementia Br. J. Radiol., December 1, 2007; 80(Special_Issue_2): S153 - S159. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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 I. Payot, J. Latour, F. Massoud, and M.-J. Kergoat Validation d'indicateurs de la prise en charge des atteintes des fonctions cognitives dans les unites d'evaluation geriatrique Can Fam Physician, November 1, 2007; 53(11): 1944 - 1952. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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W. Jagust, B. Reed, D. Mungas, W. Ellis, and C. DeCarli What does fluorodeoxyglucose PET imaging add to a clinical diagnosis of dementia? Neurology, August 28, 2007; 69(9): 871 - 877. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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T. Holsinger, J. Deveau, M. Boustani, and J. W. Williams Jr Does This Patient Have Dementia? JAMA, June 6, 2007; 297(21): 2391 - 2404. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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P. Edison, H. A. Archer, R. Hinz, A. Hammers, N. Pavese, Y. F. Tai, G. Hotton, D. Cutler, N. Fox, A. Kennedy, et al. Amyloid, hypometabolism, and cognition in Alzheimer disease: An [11C]PIB and [18F]FDG PET study Neurology, February 13, 2007; 68(7): 501 - 508. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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 P. E Lee and P. A Rochon Daily oral vitamin B-12 with or without folic acid for 24 weeks did not improve cognitive function in elderly people Evid. Based Med., February 1, 2007; 12(1): 18 - 18. [Full Text] [PDF]
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P. Werner Family Physicians' Recommendations for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias, January 1, 2007; 21(6): 403 - 410. [Abstract] [PDF]
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N. Scarmeas, Y. Stern, R. Mayeux, and J. A. Luchsinger Mediterranean Diet, Alzheimer Disease, and Vascular Mediation Arch Neurol, December 1, 2006; 63(12): 1709 - 1717. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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M. Sano Neuropsychological Testing in the Diagnosis of Dementia J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol, September 1, 2006; 19(3): 155 - 159. [Abstract] [PDF]
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D. Blacker and S. Lovestone Genetics and Dementia Nosology J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol, September 1, 2006; 19(3): 186 - 191. [Abstract] [PDF]
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 A. H. Friedlander, D. C. Norman, M. E. Mahler, K. M. Norman, and J. A. Yagiela Alzheimer's disease: Psychopathology, medical management and dental implications. J Am Dent Assoc, September 1, 2006; 137(9): 1240 - 1251. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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 M. G. Austrom, C. Hartwell, P. Moore, A. J. Perkins, T. Damush, F. W. Unverzagt, M. Boustani, H. C. Hendrie, and C. M. Callahan An integrated model of comprehensive care for people with Alzheimer's disease and their caregivers in a primary care setting Dementia, August 1, 2006; 5(3): 339 - 352. [Abstract] [PDF]
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 F. J. de Jong, T. den Heijer, T. J. Visser, Y. B. de Rijke, H. A. Drexhage, A. Hofman, and M. M. B. Breteler Thyroid Hormones, Dementia, and Atrophy of the Medial Temporal Lobe J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., July 1, 2006; 91(7): 2569 - 2573. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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 J. Persson, L. Nyberg, J. Lind, A. Larsson, L.-G. Nilsson, M. Ingvar, and R. L. Buckner Structure-Function Correlates of Cognitive Decline in Aging Cereb Cortex, July 1, 2006; 16(7): 907 - 915. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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M. Yoshita, J. Taki, K. Yokoyama, M. Noguchi-Shinohara, Y. Matsumoto, K. Nakajima, and M. Yamada Value of 123I-MIBG radioactivity in the differential diagnosis of DLB from AD Neurology, June 27, 2006; 66(12): 1850 - 1854. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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 R. G. Biringer, H. Amato, M. G. Harrington, A. N. Fonteh, J. N. Riggins, and A. F. R. Huhmer Enhanced sequence coverage of proteins in human cerebrospinal fluid using multiple enzymatic digestion and linear ion trap LC-MS/MS Brief Funct Genomic Proteomic, June 1, 2006; 5(2): 144 - 153. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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 A. M. Washburn and L. P. Sands Social cognition in nursing home residents with and without cognitive impairment. J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., May 1, 2006; 61(3): P174 - P179. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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S. Lessig and E. Tecoma Perils of the prozone reaction: Neurosyphilis presenting as an RPR-negative subacute dementia Neurology, March 14, 2006; 66(5): 777 - 777. [Full Text] [PDF]
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N Scarmeas, S M Albert, J J Manly, and Y Stern Education and rates of cognitive decline in incident Alzheimer's disease. J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry, March 1, 2006; 77(3): 308 - 316. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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S. L. Kulasingam, G. P. Samsa, and D. B. Matchar Linking dementia research to policy: An example using fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's dementia and mild cognitive impairment American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias, March 1, 2006; 21(2): 73 - 78. [PDF]
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D. B. Arciniegas New-Onset Bipolar Disorder in Late Life: A Case of Mistaken Identity Am J Psychiatry, February 1, 2006; 163(2): 198 - 203. [Full Text] [PDF]
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W M van der Flier and P Scheltens Use of laboratory and imaging investigations in dementia J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry, December 1, 2005; 76(suppl_5): v45 - v52. [Full Text] [PDF]
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A. M. Clarfield Reversible dementia--the implications of a fall in prevalence Age Ageing, November 1, 2005; 34(6): 544 - 545. [Full Text] [PDF]
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 S. P Mooijaart, J. Gussekloo, M. Frolich, J. Jolles, D. J Stott, R. G. Westendorp, and A. J. de Craen Homocysteine, vitamin B-12, and folic acid and the risk of cognitive decline in old age: the Leiden 85-Plus Study Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, October 1, 2005; 82(4): 866 - 871. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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M. Likeman, V. M. Anderson, J. M. Stevens, A. D. Waldman, A. K. Godbolt, C. Frost, M. N. Rossor, and N. C. Fox Visual Assessment of Atrophy on Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Diagnosis of Pathologically Confirmed Young-Onset Dementias Arch Neurol, September 1, 2005; 62(9): 1410 - 1415. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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 F. Mor, M. Izak, and I. R. Cohen Identification of Aldolase as a Target Antigen in Alzheimer's Disease J. Immunol., September 1, 2005; 175(5): 3439 - 3445. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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 D. R. Royall, L. K. Chiodo, and M. J. Polk An Empiric Approach to Level of Care Determinations: The Importance of Executive Measures J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., August 1, 2005; 60(8): 1059 - 1064. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the British Neuropsychiatry Association at the Institute of Child Health, London, 9-11 February 2005 J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry, June 1, 2005; 76(6): 893 - 900. [Full Text] [PDF]
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 M. Hughes and T. MacEwan Neuroimaging in dementia Psychiatr. Bull., June 1, 2005; 29(6): 233 - 233. [Full Text] [PDF]
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 R Vandenberghe and J Tournoy Cognitive aging and Alzheimer's disease Postgrad. Med. J., June 1, 2005; 81(956): 343 - 352. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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S. N. BHRIAIN, A. W. CLARE, and B. A. LAWLOR Neuroimaging: a new training issue in psychiatry? Psychiatr. Bull., May 1, 2005; 29(5): 189 - 192. [Full Text] [PDF]
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D. Knopman and J. Jankowiak Recovery from dementia: An interesting case Neurology, February 22, 2005; 64(4): E18 - E19. [Full Text] [PDF]
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 D. G. Georganopoulou, L. Chang, J.-M. Nam, C. S. Thaxton, E. J. Mufson, W. L. Klein, and C. A. Mirkin From The Cover: Nanoparticle-based detection in cerebral spinal fluid of a soluble pathogenic biomarker for Alzheimer's disease PNAS, February 15, 2005; 102(7): 2273 - 2276. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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L. Lair and A. M. Naidech Modern neuropsychiatric presentation of neurosyphilis Neurology, October 12, 2004; 63(7): 1331 - 1333. [Full Text] [PDF]
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P. Werner Lay person's recommendations about interventions for Alzheimer's disease: Correlates and relationship to help-seeking behavior American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias, September 1, 2004; 19(5): 309 - 315. [Abstract] [PDF]
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 J. L. Cummings Alzheimer's Disease N. Engl. J. Med., July 1, 2004; 351(1): 56 - 67. [Full Text] [PDF]
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A. J. Saykin, H. A. Wishart, L. A. Rabin, L. A. Flashman, T. L. McHugh, A. C. Mamourian, and R. B. Santulli Cholinergic enhancement of frontal lobe activity in mild cognitive impairment Brain, July 1, 2004; 127(7): 1574 - 1583. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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 O. A. Ajilore and A. Kumar Delirium and Dementia Focus, April 1, 2004; 2(2): 210 - 220. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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 D. H.S. Silverman Brain 18F-FDG PET in the Diagnosis of Neurodegenerative Dementias: Comparison with Perfusion SPECT and with Clinical Evaluations Lacking Nuclear Imaging J. Nucl. Med., April 1, 2004; 45(4): 594 - 607. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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J. L. Cummings, L. Schneider, P. N. Tariot, P. R. Kershaw, and W. Yuan Reduction of Behavioral Disturbances and Caregiver Distress by Galantamine in Patients With Alzheimer's Disease Am J Psychiatry, March 1, 2004; 161(3): 532 - 538. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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 A. Van de Winckel, H. Feys, W. De Weerdt, and R. Dom Cognitive and behavioural effects of music-based exercises in patients with dementia Clinical Rehabilitation, March 1, 2004; 18(3): 253 - 260. [Abstract] [PDF]
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E L Sampson, J D Warren, and M N Rossor Young onset dementia Postgrad. Med. J., March 1, 2004; 80(941): 125 - 139. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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T Jarvenpaa, M P Laakso, R Rossi, M Koskenvuo, J Kaprio, I Raiha, T Kurki, M Laine, G B Frisoni, and J O Rinne Hippocampal MRI volumetry in cognitively discordant monozygotic twin pairs J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry, January 1, 2004; 75(1): 116 - 120. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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B. Borroni, F. Colciaghi, C. Caltagirone, L. Rozzini, L. Broglio, F. Cattabeni, M. Di Luca, and A. Padovani Platelet Amyloid Precursor Protein Abnormalities in Mild Cognitive Impairment Predict Conversion to Dementia of Alzheimer Type: A 2-Year Follow-up Study Arch Neurol, December 1, 2003; 60(12): 1740 - 1744. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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A. M. Clarfield The Decreasing Prevalence of Reversible Dementias: An Updated Meta-analysis Arch Intern Med, October 13, 2003; 163(18): 2219 - 2229. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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G B Frisoni, P h Scheltens, S Galluzzi, F M Nobili, N C Fox, P H Robert, H Soininen, L-O Wahlund, G Waldemar, and E Salmon Neuroimaging tools to rate regional atrophy, subcortical cerebrovascular disease, and regional cerebral blood flow and metabolism: consensus paper of the EADC J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry, October 1, 2003; 74(10): 1371 - 1381. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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 D. S. Knopman, B. F. Boeve, and R. C. Petersen Essentials of the Proper Diagnoses of Mild Cognitive Impairment, Dementia, and Major Subtypes of Dementia Mayo Clin. Proc., October 1, 2003; 78(10): 1290 - 1308. [Abstract] [PDF]
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C. H. Kawas Early Alzheimer's Disease N. Engl. J. Med., September 11, 2003; 349(11): 1056 - 1063. [Full Text] [PDF]
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 T. C. Rosenthal and N. Khotianov Managing Alzheimer Dementia Tomorrow J Am Board Fam Med, September 1, 2003; 16(5): 423 - 434. [Abstract] [Full Text]
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D. Galasko Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers in Alzheimer Disease: A Fractional Improvement? Arch Neurol, September 1, 2003; 60(9): 1195 - 1196. [Full Text] [PDF]
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N. Huang, S. K. Marie, J. A. Livramento, R. Chammas, and R. Nitrini 14-3-3 protein in the CSF of patients with rapidly progressive dementia Neurology, August 12, 2003; 61(3): 354 - 357. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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 P. M. McMahon, S. S. Araki, E. A. Sandberg, P. J. Neumann, and G. S. Gazelle Cost-Effectiveness of PET in the Diagnosis of Alzheimer Disease Radiology, August 1, 2003; 228(2): 515 - 522. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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A. L. Boxer, K. P. Rankin, B. L. Miller, N. Schuff, M. Weiner, M.-L. Gorno-Tempini, and H. J. Rosen Cinguloparietal Atrophy Distinguishes Alzheimer Disease From Semantic Dementia Arch Neurol, July 1, 2003; 60(7): 949 - 956. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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M. Boustani, B. Peterson, L. Hanson, R. Harris, and K. N. Lohr Screening for Dementia in Primary Care: A Summary of the Evidence for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Ann Intern Med, June 3, 2003; 138(11): 927 - 937. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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G. S. Zubenko, W. N. Zubenko, S. McPherson, E. Spoor, D. B. Marin, M. R. Farlow, G. E. Smith, Y. E. Geda, J. L. Cummings, R. C. Petersen, et al. A Collaborative Study of the Emergence and Clinical Features of the Major Depressive Syndrome of Alzheimer's Disease Am J Psychiatry, May 1, 2003; 160(5): 857 - 866. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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T. Sunderland, G. Linker, N. Mirza, K. T. Putnam, D. L. Friedman, L. H. Kimmel, J. Bergeson, G. J. Manetti, M. Zimmermann, B. Tang, et al. Decreased {beta}-Amyloid1-42 and Increased Tau Levels in Cerebrospinal Fluid of Patients With Alzheimer Disease JAMA, April 23, 2003; 289(16): 2094 - 2103. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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C. M. Clark and J. H.T. Karlawish Alzheimer Disease: Current Concepts and Emerging Diagnostic and Therapeutic Strategies Ann Intern Med, March 4, 2003; 138(5): 400 - 410. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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J. H.T. Karlawish and C. M. Clark Diagnostic Evaluation of Elderly Patients with Mild Memory Problems Ann Intern Med, March 4, 2003; 138(5): 411 - 419. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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J. R. Petrella, R. E. Coleman, and P. M. Doraiswamy Neuroimaging and Early Diagnosis of Alzheimer Disease: A Look to the Future Radiology, February 1, 2003; 226(2): 315 - 336. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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J. Verghese, R. B. Lipton, C. B. Hall, G. Kuslansky, M. J. Katz, and H. Buschke Abnormality of Gait as a Predictor of Non-Alzheimer's Dementia N. Engl. J. Med., November 28, 2002; 347(22): 1761 - 1768. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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M. D. Murray, K. A. Lane, S. Gao, R. M. Evans, F. W. Unverzagt, K. S. Hall, and H. Hendrie Preservation of Cognitive Function With Antihypertensive Medications: A Longitudinal Analysis of a Community-Based Sample of African Americans Arch Intern Med, October 14, 2002; 162(18): 2090 - 2096. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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A Hejl, P Hogh, and G Waldemar Potentially reversible conditions in 1000 consecutive memory clinic patients J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry, October 1, 2002; 73(4): 390 - 394. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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D. S. Knopman, W. A. Rocca, R. H. Cha, S. D. Edland, and E. Kokmen Incidence of Vascular Dementia in Rochester, Minn, 1985-1989 Arch Neurol, October 1, 2002; 59(10): 1605 - 1610. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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D. H.S. Silverman and G. W. Small Prompt Identification of Alzheimer's Disease With Brain PET Imaging of a Woman With Multiple Previous Diagnoses of Other Neuropsychiatric Conditions Am J Psychiatry, September 1, 2002; 159(9): 1482 - 1488. [Full Text] [PDF]
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