Alzheimer's disease and its effect on handwriting.

The fact that illness and age can have an effect on a person's writing has been recognized since the principles of handwriting identification were first promulgated. Most of the attention give to this subject, however, has focused on infirmities that cause physical impairment. In contrast, Alzheimer's disease is a disorder that primarily manifests itself as a mental dysfunction. The causes and effects of various forms of senile dementia, and the medications commonly employed in the treatment thereof, are discussed in this article. The focus is on Alzheimer's disease and the effects that may be seen in the individual's writing as the disease progresses.