[An update of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in Alzheimer disease]

Early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease is difficult, but neuropsychological tests become quite sensitive, and neuroimaging gives useful information. Criteria for differential diagnosis appear in the literature, but vascular dementia remains an ill-defined concept. There are ongoing researches on possible therapeutic interferences with formation of histological brain lesions. Meanwhile, treatments are symptomatic and should be started as early as possible. Both inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase and cognitive rehabilitation in day-care centres fulfill therapeutic criteria for dementia, i.e. improvement or stabilization of cognitive impairment and daily life activities.