Clinical profile of early-onset Alzheimer's disease in Peru: case series from a neurological care center.

BACKGROUND

Motivation for the study. To describe the clinical characteristics of early-onset Alzheimer's disease (EOAD) and compare them according to gender. This condition is considered a rare disease, whose manifestations are still poorly understood. Main findings. The most common clinical presentation of EOAD is the amnestic variant, which mainly affects episodic memory and executive function and is often accompanied by neuropsychiatric symptoms such as depression and irritability. Women tend to have more impairments in calculus, constructive apraxia, and visuospatial functions than men. Implications for public health. By identifying the clinical characteristics of EOAD, healthcare professionals can recognize patients early on. Furthermore, it is essential to broaden the concept of dementia, avoiding limiting it exclusively to the population over 65 years of age.

BACKGROUND

Early-onset Alzheimer's disease (EOAD) accounts for between 5 and 10% of all cases of Alzheimer's disease and is a rare and devastating form of the disease. This retrospective study analyzed the medical records of patients diagnosed with EOAD between 2022 and 2023 at a tertiary neurological center in Lima, Peru. Of 547 cases of dementia, 60 met the criteria for EOAD. Most were women (73.3%), and 71% had more than six years of education. The mean MMSE score was 11.92 ± 7.5, and the mean CDR score was 2, indicating severe cognitive impairment and moderate dementia. The amnestic variant was the most common clinical form, highlighting the involvement of episodic memory and executive function. The most common psychological and behavioral symptoms were depression and irritability. Atypical features such as myoclonus (5%) and epilepsy (10%) were also identified. These findings highlight the importance of healthcare professionals recognizing dementia in young adults at an early stage and offering comprehensive management to improve the quality of life of patients and their families.

BACKGROUND

Motivation for the study. To describe the clinical characteristics of early-onset Alzheimer's disease (EOAD) and compare them according to gender. This condition is considered a rare disease, whose manifestations are still poorly understood. Main findings. The most common clinical presentation of EOAD is the amnestic variant, which mainly affects episodic memory and executive function and is often accompanied by neuropsychiatric symptoms such as depression and irritability. Women tend to have more impairments in calculus, constructive apraxia, and visuospatial functions than men. Implications for public health. By identifying the clinical characteristics of EOAD, healthcare professionals can recognize patients early on. Furthermore, it is essential to broaden the concept of dementia, avoiding limiting it exclusively to the population over 65 years of age.