| Table 1: Diagnostic criteria of Alzheimer's disease20 |
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 aphasia, apraxia, agnosia or disturbance in executive functioning.
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Substantial impairment of social or occupational functioning and significant decline from prior level of functioning caused by these cognitive deficits |
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Gradual onset and continuing cognitive decline, not occurring exclusively during the course of delirium and not better accounted for by a primary psychiatric disorder such as major depression or schizophrenia |
Development of cognitive deficits not due to :
- Other central nervous system conditions that cause progressive deficits in memory and cognition (e.g., stroke, Parkinson's disease, subdural hematoma, normal-pressure hydrocephalus or brain tumour)
- Systemic conditions that can cause dementia (e.g., hypothyroidism, vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiency, neurosyphilis, HIV infection)
- Condition induced by substance abuse (e.g., alcohol or sedatives)
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