EARLY DIAGNOSIS OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE: IMPORTANCE AND CHALLENGES

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder common in older people and its pathophysiology is not yet well explained, but it is known that genetic factors are involved in its development.  It is a chronic pathology that presents senile plaques and is characterized by a progressive decline in cognitive function, with damage mainly to short-term memory, language, reasoning and critical judgment. In view of the epidemiological impact of Alzheimer's disease, this paper aims to address the importance of early diagnosis of the disease, in order to highlight the challenges faced in its diagnosis. The study was based on a literature review. The articles were selected for the study after searching the SciELO, PubMed and VHL databases.  The descriptors used to find the related studies were "Alzheimer's Disease" and "Early Diagnosis".  As a result, it was observed that early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease is of paramount importance for adequate access to treatment, planning and preparing the family for future challenges, seeking emotional support, safety and adequate care. However, challenges such as intra-laboratory variability, overlap with other forms of dementia and high cost mean that early diagnosis using biomarkers is limited.