NEUROCOGNITIVE DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS OF DEMENTING DISEASES: ALZHEIMER'S DEMENTIA, VASCULAR DEMENTIA, FRONTOTEMPORAL DEMENTIA, AND MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER

• Published in: International journal of neuroscience Vol. 116; no. 11; pp. 1271 - 1293
• Main Authors: BRAATEN, ALYSSA J., PARSONS, THOMAS D., McCUE, ROBERT, SELLERS, ALFRED, BURNS, WILLIAM J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Informa UK Ltd 01.11.2006; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Alzheimer Disease - diagnosis; Alzheimer Disease - physiopathology; Alzheimer Disease - psychology; Attention - physiology; Behavioral psychophysiology; Biological and medical sciences; cognition; Cognition Disorders - diagnosis; Cognition Disorders - etiology; Cognition Disorders - psychology; Degenerative and inherited degenerative diseases of the nervous system. Leukodystrophies. Prion diseases; dementia; Dementia - diagnosis; Dementia - physiopathology; Dementia - psychology; Dementia, Vascular - diagnosis; Dementia, Vascular - physiopathology; Dementia, Vascular - psychology; Depressive Disorder, Major - diagnosis; Depressive Disorder, Major - physiopathology; Depressive Disorder, Major - psychology; Diagnosis, Differential; differential diagnosis; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Language Disorders - diagnosis; Language Disorders - etiology; Language Disorders - physiopathology; Male; Medical sciences; Memory Disorders - diagnosis; Memory Disorders - etiology; Memory Disorders - psychology; Middle Aged; Neurology; Neuropsychological Tests; Organic mental disorders. Neuropsychology; Predictive Value of Tests; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Vascular diseases and vascular malformations of the nervous system; Verbal Behavior - physiology; Mood disorder; Nervous system diseases; differential diagnosis; Vascular dementia; Alzheimer disease; Neuropsychological test; Depression; Psychometrics; Cognition; Differential diagnostic; Cerebral disorder; Senile dementia; Central nervous system disease; dementia; Degenerative disease; neuropsychological tests; Frontotemporal dementia
• ISSN: 0020-7454; 1563-5279
• DOI: 10.1080/00207450600920928

Similarities in presentation of Dementia of Alzheimer's Type, Vascular Dementia, Frontotemporal Dementia, and Major Depressive Disorder, pose differential diagnosis challenges. The current study identifies specific neuropsychological patterns of scores for Dementia of Alzheimer's Type, Vascular Dementia, Frontotemporal Dementia, and Major Depressive Disorder. Neuropsychological domains directly assessed in the study included: immediate memory, delayed memory, confrontational naming, verbal fluency, attention, concentration, and executive functioning. The results reveal specific neuropsychological comparative profiles for Dementia of Alzheimer's Type, Vascular Dementia, Frontotemporal Dementia, and Major Depressive Disorder. The identification of these profiles will assist in the differential diagnosis of these disorders and aid in patient treatment.