[Palliative care and Alzheimer disease].

Although end-of-life care is a relatively common option for patients with terminal cancer, it has become available only recently for patients with Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease is a chronic process of gradual deterioration of cognitive ability and the resulting deficits in activities of daily living. The chronic disease course of Alzheimer's disease gives to the clinician the opportunity to look ahead and plan for the final stages of care.

The cognitive disorders examination (Codex) is a reliable 3-minute test for detection of dementia in the elderly (validation study on 323 subjects).

Background: Dementia often remains undiagnosed until it has reached moderate or severe stages, thereby preventing patients and their families from obtaining optimal care. Tools that are easy to use in primary care might facilitate earlier detection of dementia.

Aim: Develop and validate a very brief test for the detection of dementia.

[Patients with severe dementia in geriatric facilities].

The institutional management for demented patients has been improved by new specific treatments, behavioural approach, better architectural adaptation, and environmental characteristics. This management must be global, including patients, families and nursing staffs. The nursing staff must be diversified, motivated, and specifically trained to manage demented patients.