Alzheimer disease: time to improve its diagnosis and treatment.

Basic research is bringing a much-needed infusion of optimism and urgency to the clinical diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer disease. Some of its risk factors may be modifiable, and although current drugs offer only modest benefit, true disease-modifying drugs are on the horizon. This review is aimed at primary care physicians, who are the first clinicians to see patients with Alzheimer disease and are responsible for their ongoing care throughout the course of their dementia.