The Japanese journal of neuropsychology

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ArticleTitle	Neuropsychology of Alzheimer's disease
Language	J
AuthorList	Nobutsugu Hirono
Affiliation	The Division of Clinical Neurosciences, Hyogo Institute for Aging Brain
Publication	Japanese Journal of Neuropsychology: 18 (1), 10-15, 2002
Received
Accepted
Abstract	Whereas Alzheimer's disease (AD) has a characteristic distribution pattern of the pathological changes, substantial inter-subject variability is superimposed. Such topographical differences across subjects may be attributable to the different pattern of cognitive and/or neuropsychiatric manifestations among individuals. Thus, by examining the correlations between the extent of the regional morphological changes or regional metabolic/blood flow changes and the extent of certain cognitive dysfunctions or neuropsychiatric manifestations, we can elucidate the neural basis of these functions. Through this method, we have not only presented further evidence of neural bases for several cognitive functions including emotional memory, semantic memory, and calculation but have also demonstrated neural bases for neuropsychological functions or neuropsychiatric manifestations that cannot be easily addressed in focal lesion studies nor functional activation studies, such as orientation, depression, and aggression. Neuropsychological studies in AD are also important in the clinical medicine, as these findings facilitate our understanding of symptoms, and may give a basis for measures of treatment effects of these cognitive dysfunction and neuropsychiatric symptoms.
Keywords	Alzheimer's disease, cognitive function, neuropsychiatric symptom