Alexia without agraphia in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

Progressive dementia uncommonly presents with focal deficits referable to posterior cortical dysfunction. We describe a 62 year-old man who presented with progressive visual disturbance in whom detailed cognitive testing documented alexia without agraphia. The only finding from diagnostic investigations was hypoperfusion of the posterior left temporoparietal region on brain SPECT scan.

Changing patient characteristics and survival experience in an Alzheimer's center patient cohort.

Background: Large and diverse dementia patient cohorts can further a variety of research programs aimed at improving diagnosis, treatment, and meaningful survival in AD.

Method: We recruited 1,502 dementia patients between 1989 and 2002, subclassified using standardized criteria and laboratory procedures, and treated according to established guidelines. Baseline clinical and psychometric measures were repeated annually, in person or by use of a multi-modal telephone follow-up program that included many of the measures obtained at in-person visits.

Individual growth curve analysis of APOE epsilon 4-associated cognitive decline in Alzheimer disease.

Background: The apolipoprotein E epsilon4 (APOE epsilon4) allele is associated with an increased risk of developing Alzheimer disease (AD). However, findings regarding an association between the APOE epsilon4 allele and the rate of decline in AD have been mixed.

Objective: To examine the relationship between the APOE epsilon4 allele and the rate of cognitive and functional decline in AD using individual growth curve analyses.