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Abstract and Introduction
Introduction
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most frequent cause of neurodegenerative dementia, and its prevalence and incidence increases with age. AD has been divided into two clinical forms according to age at onset: early-onset AD (EOAD) and late-onset AD (LOAD). EOAD is arbitrarily defined by an onset of symptoms below 65 years of age. Few data are available regarding the frequency of EOAD, but incidence is estimated to be approximately seven new cases per 100,000 individuals at risk per year, with a prevalence of 15–35 per 100,000 people at risk. Although EOAD is a rare disease compared with LOAD, representing less than 10% of all AD cases, the interest of EOAD has increased in recent years, as differences in both clinical features and individual care needs with LOAD arise. Nevertheless, the underlying neuropathological changes are similar regardless of the age at onset. To achieve definite AD diagnosis, a neuropathological examination is required, showing typical extracellular neuritic plaques with deposits of amyloid-β (Aβ) and intraneuronal neurofibrillary tangles composed of hyperphosphorylated tau.
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