Alzheimer's disease in women.

The progressive and irreversible dementia of Alzheimer's disease affects both men and women, but women constitute the majority of persons with the disease. Women may also have relatively more language impairment and a tendency for greater psychiatric involvement. Diagnosis is founded on the recognition of clinical features and exclusion of other causes of dementia. The etiology of the disease remains unknown. Although a variety of genetic factors is increasingly suspected, no diagnostic genetic test is currently recommended. Recent basic science and clinical data suggest the possibility that estrogen may be helpful both in preventing and in treating Alzheimer's disease, and these potential effects may encourage the use of estrogen in postmenopausal women. Standard treatment for Alzheimer's disease involves counseling and support, as well as consideration of tacrine, a cholinergic agent that may stabilize the course in some patients. Until the cause of the disease is elucidated, however, the development of curative treatment is unlikely.