A Tool to Aid in the Neuropsychological Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease

A hybrid model, combining influence diagrams and a multicriteria method, is presented in order to assist with the decision making about which questions would be more attractive to the definition of the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, considering the stages of CDR (Clinical Dementia Rating). Due to the increase in life expectancy there is higher incidence of dementias. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common dementia, accounting for 50% of the cases. Because of this and due to limitations in treatment at late stages of the disease early diagnosis is fundamental because it improves quality of life for patients and their families. The modeling and evaluation processes were carried out through a battery of standardized assessments for the evaluation of cases with Alzheimer’s disease developed by Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s disease (CERAD).