Alzheimer disease (dementia)

General: Diffuse brain atrophy coming on well before the senile period of life; progressive; etiology currently unknown but hereditary disorder suspected; terminally, nearly decortic 242i83c ate, with loss of all ability to think, perceive, speak, or move.

Ocular: Fixed dilated pupil; optic atrophy; decreased contrast sensitivity, color vision, and stereo vision; abnormalities of the optic nerve head and nerve fiber layer; controversy exists regarding the ability to diagnose patients with Alzheimer disease by their marked hypersensitivity in pupil dilation response to tropicamide.

Clinical: Emotional disturbances; depression; anxiety; antisocial behavior; aphasia; apraxic disturbances; abnormalities of space perception; shuffling gait; generalized shuffling gait with short steps; disturbances in thought process.

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Tsai CS, et al. Optic nerve head and nerve fiber layer in Alzheimer's disease. Arch Ophthalmol 1991; 109:199-204.

Wolin MJ. Alzheimer's disease and the eye. J South Carolina Med Assoc 1994; 90:534-538.