Journal article
Navigating Alzheimer’s Disease in Primary Care: Practical Strategies for Diagnosis and Management
International journal of general medicine, Vol.19, 603347
06/29/2026
DOI: 10.2147/IJGM.S603347
PMID: 42404289
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most common form of dementia, is a neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects older adults. Because the number of Americans 65 years of age and older living with AD is expected to increase and the availability of specialty physicians, such as neurologists and geriatricians, is limited, the role of primary care in diagnosing and managing patients with AD is expected to grow. Several guidelines for primary care providers are available for the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of patients with AD. However, there is no single concise and convenient reference tool for use in the primary care setting. In the primary care setting, clinicians are responsible for identifying patients at risk or demonstrating signs of cognitive impairment, administering cognitive tests, identifying appropriate referrals, and, in some cases, ordering blood-based biomarker testing. Although definitive testing and treatment identification may occur in the specialty care setting, in addition to serving as the hub to coordinate the multidisciplinary care team, primary care clinicians remain responsible for guiding patients and caregivers through shared decision-making regarding treatment, as well as the myriad responsibilities related to comorbidities, patient and caregiver psychological well-being, social support, and safety. This review aims to provide practical recommendations to primary care clinicians for the diagnosis, management, and long-term care of patients with AD.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Navigating Alzheimer’s Disease in Primary Care: Practical Strategies for Diagnosis and Management
- Creators
- Scott T Larson - University of IowaJeffrey L Susman - John Sealy Hospital
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- International journal of general medicine, Vol.19, 603347
- DOI
- 10.2147/IJGM.S603347
- PMID
- 42404289
- NLM abbreviation
- Int J Gen Med
- ISSN
- 1178-7074
- eISSN
- 1178-7074
- Publisher
- Dove Press
- Grant note
- Novo Nordisk Inc.
Funding This article was supported by Novo Nordisk Inc.; Novo Nordisk performed a medical accuracy review of the final author draft manuscript.
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 06/29/2026
- Academic Unit
- Family and Community Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9985180966602771
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