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Subtypes of Alzheimer's Dementia: a conceptual analysis and critical review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

A. F. Jorm
A. F. Jorm*
Affiliation:
NH and MRC Social Psychiatry Research Unit, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
*
1Address for correspondence: Dr A. F. Jorm, NH and MRC Social Psychiatry Research Unit, The Australian National Unversity, GPO Box 4, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
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Synopsis

Criteria necessary for establishing the existence of qualitatively-different subtypes of a disorder are proposed. A review is made of the existing literature on Alzheimer's Dementia which proposes subtypes on the basis of either psychological or neuropathological data. It is concluded that, as yet, this research has not met the criteria for establishing qualitatively-different subtypes. However, Alzheimer's Dementia does seem to show quantitative variability in a number of respects and this appears to be related to factors of aetiological significance. The possibility that this quantitative variability could provide the basis for subtyping is discussed.

Type
Research Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 15 , Issue 3 , August 1985 , pp. 543 - 553
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1985

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