DSM-IV - Dementia of the Alzheimer's Type
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The development of multiple cognitive deficits manifested by both
- memory impairment (impaired ability to learn new information or to recall previously learned information)
- one (or more) of the following cognitive disturbances:
- aphasia (language disturbance)
- apraxia (impaired ability to carry out motor activities despite intact motor function)
- agnosia (failure to recognize or identify objects despite intact sensory function)
- disturbance in executive functioning (i.e., planning, organizing, sequencing, abstracting)
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- The cognitive deficits in Criteria A1 and A2 each cause significant impairment in social or occupational functioning and represent a significant decline from a previous level of functioning.
- The course is characterized by gradual onset and continuing cognitive decline.
- The cognitive deficits in Criteria A1 and A2 are not due to any of the following:
- other central nervous system conditions that cause progressive deficits in memory and cognition (e.g., cerebrovascular disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, subdural hematoma, normal-pressure hydrocephalus, brain tumor)
- systemic conditions that are known to cause dementia (e.g., hypothyroidism, vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiency, niacin deficiency, hypercalcemia, neurosyphilis, HIV infection)
- substance-induced conditions
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- The deficits do not occur exclusively during the course of a delirium.
- The disturbance is not better accounted for by another Axis I disorder (e.g., major depressive disorder, schizophrenia).
Code based on presence or absence of a clinically significant behavioral disturbance:
Without behavioral disturbance: if the cognitive disturbance is not accompanied by any clinically significant behavioral disturbance.
With behavioral disturbance: if the cognitive disturbance is accompanied by a clinically significant behavioral disturbance (e.g., wandering, agitation).
Specify subtype:
With early onset: if onset is at age 65 years or below
With late onset: if onset is after age 65 years
Coding note: Also code Alzheimer's disease on Axis III. Indicate other prominent clinical features related to the Alzheimer's disease on Axis I (e.g., Mood disorder due to Alzheimer's disease, with depressive features, and Personality change due to Alzheimer's disease, aggressive type).
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