Everyday functioning in Alzheimer's disease: contribution of neuropsychological testing

COGNITIVE AND BEHAVIORAL problems associated with Alzheimer's disease are variable and complex; consequently, each patient should be managed by an advanced practice nurse (APN) so that everyday functioning is maximized and excess disabilities are prevented. Neuropsychological testing is sensitive to neuropathological conditions and holds promise for assisting APNs in the care of the Alzheimer's patient by pinpointing areas of cognitive and behavioral impairment. In this article, an overview is given of the essentials of a neuropsychological assessment for the Alzheimer's patient as performed by the neuropsychologist. Use of assessment results by the APN for designing interventions that compensate for losses but which preserve remaining abilities is discussed.