The Role of General Practitioner in the Treatment of the Alzheimer's Disease

Overview

Old patients who are worried by worsening memory functions are very frequent in the general practitioner's office. It is himself who should diagnose the prodromes of the Alzheimer's disease (AD). The rapid progression of memory deterioration in AD can help to differentiate AD from the benign memory impairment. Nevertheless, the doctor should not wait for the deterioration and begin the treatment immediately, irrespective of the possibility, tkat the patient does not suffer from AD. He should recommend a change of the life style, an increase of mental activity, memory exercise and „psychopharmacological cosmetics" i.e. lecithin, and scavengers of free radicals (ascorbic acid, tocopherol, beta-tamten etc.). In the presence offurther target symptoms (fatigue, dizziness, affective lability, decreased vigility, tinnitus, etc.) he may prescribe nicergoline. In an open trial performed by the autorr, this drog showed a good efficacy in 78 patients. The modem treatment of AD can stop or slovu down the progression of AD for 2-4 years. The level of mental functions remain on the level in which they esere at the moment when the treatment was begun. It can a general practitioner who can start it. It depends to a great extent on the general practitioner, in what mental stare 10-15 % of inhabitants approach to the end of their lives.

Key words:
Alzheimer's disease - treatment - diagnosis - general practitioner - nicergolin.