Assessing Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia: Best Practices in Nursing Care

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a chronic progressive neurodegenerative disorder that leads to irreversible dementia. As the number of older adults increases, so will the incidence of AD. The purpose of this article is to offer information to nurse clinicians regarding the differential diagnosis of dementia of the Alzheimer’s type, describe available assessment instruments, and review practice recommendations for treatment.