Odenheimer G L
Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
Pharmacotherapy. 1991;11(3):237-41.
Alzheimer's disease represents the most common cause of dementia in the elderly. Current estimates suggest that nearly 50% of those over age 85 years have the disorder. Many gaps still exist in our understanding of its etiology and management. Scientific discoveries that once seemed to promise effective treatments have not lived up to our expectations. There are, however, many therapeutic interventions (environmental and pharmacologic) that can greatly enhance the quality of the lives of patients with Alzheimer's disease and that of their families.
阿尔茨海默病是老年人痴呆最常见的病因。目前估计，85岁以上的人群中近50%患有这种疾病。我们对其病因和治疗的理解仍存在许多空白。曾经看似有望带来有效治疗方法的科学发现并未达到我们的期望。然而，有许多治疗干预措施（环境和药物方面的）可以极大地提高阿尔茨海默病患者及其家人的生活质量。
