Alzheimer's disease: toward understanding and management.

It is vital that nurse practitioners be knowledgeable about the most common primary dementia, Alzheimer's disease. A review of the etiology, pathology, signs and symptoms are presented. This article suggests a method for the nurse practitioner to use in assessing the demented patient, with a view of the differential diagnosis and diagnostic work-up. Current methods of drug, diet and life-style management are discussed. Nursing interventions, guided by the progressing phases of Alzheimer's disease, are offered.