Current approaches to diagnosing and treating major neurocognitive disorder

Abstract

The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) replaces the term «dementia» with «major neurocognitive disorder» (MNCD), which can reduce the stigmatization of patients and focus the attention of specialists on the preserved abilities of patients rather than deficit symptoms. In the next 35 years, the number of patients with MNCD in the world is predicted to almost triple. The article considers the concept, epidemiology, and etiological pattern of this syndrome. It characterizes in detail Alzheimer's disease (AD) that is a cause of MNCD in 50–70% of cases. The current diagnostic criteria and clinical presentations of the disease are given. The presence of early and significant episodic memory disorders as both alone or concurrent with other cognitive and behavioral changes reflects the main clinical phenotype of AD. Magnetic resonance morphometry, amyloid positron emission tomography, and estimation of cerebrospinal fluid β-amyloid and tau protein levels find increasing applications in research and routine practice. Drug and non-drug treatments for MNCD are considered. The use of akatinol memantine to treat this disorder and the issues related to the comprehensive management of patients with severe cognitive impairment are analyzed.