Questions & Answers

What the Experts Say

	Dr. Carlos Gustavo Abel Neurologist Argentina Main fields of interest Morbus Parkinson Disease Differential diagnostics of Alzheimer’s Disease
	Prof. Dr. Peter Hofmann Neuropsychologist - Clinic of Psychiatry Graz, Austria Main fields of interest Depression Bipolar affective psychoses Schizophrenia Forensic psychiatry Anti-psychotic drugs Geronto-psychiatry Anxiety disorders Post-traumatic stress disorders *Awards* Venia Docendi Award for Psychiatry - 1996
	Prof. Dr. Andreas U. Monsch Neuropsychologist - University Clinic Basel, Switzerland Main field of interest Diagnosis and differential diagnosis of Dementia Continuous lecturing and leading seminars in the field of Dementia *Memberships* President: Alzheimer Forum; Vice President: Alzheimer Association Basel International Neuropsychological Society (ISN), American Academy of Neurology (AAN, Affiliate), Swiss Federation of Psychologists (SVNP), Swiss Association of Neuropsychologists (SVNP), Gesellschaft für Neuropsychologie (GNP), Gerontoligical Society of Switzerland (SGG), Swiss Society for Behavioral Neurology.
	Dr. n. med. Tomasz M. Sobów Head of Psychogeriatrics Ward & Memory Clinic - University of Lodz Poland *Memberships* Polish Psychiatric Association, Polish Psychogeriatric Association, Polish Alzheimer Society, American Association for the Advancement of Science, European Association of Geriatric Psychiatry.
	Dr. med. Dipl.-Psych. Klaus Stecker Neuropsychologist - Clinical Geriatrics Germany Main field of interest Morbus Parkinson Disease Continuous lecturing and leading seminars in the area of Dementia Development of consultation hours for memory problems in Bad Malente, Germany.
	Dr. Marcelo L. Berthier Neurologist - University of Malaga Malaga, Spain *Main field of interest* Dementia, Neuropsychiatry, Language Disorders (aphasia) in stroke and dementia patients Neuro-rehabilitation of language disorders (aphasia), Tourette's Syndrome Pharmacotherapy and evidence-based cognitive therapy of post-stroke aphasia Memberships American Neuropsychiatric Association, International Neuropsychological Society, British Aphasiology Society, Spanish Neurological Society, Coordination of the Group of Behavioral Neurology and Dementia of the Spanish Neurological Society, Research Group of Aphasia and Cognitive Disorders of the World Federation of Neurology.

The table below contains a number of key questions and answers from the experts, which can be viewed by clicking on the relevant link. To view these videos you will need Shockwave Player which can be downloaded here

	Question	Answer
Q1	In which stage of the disease are patients most often diagnosed?	Dr. Stecker (German) Prof. Dr. Monsch (English) Dr. Berthier (Spanish)
Q2	How do you argue against the existing nihilism regarding diagnosis and therapy of AD?	Dr. Abel (Spanish) Prof. Dr. Hofmann (German) Prof. Dr. Monsch (English)
Q3	“My patient has not responded to the anti-dementia drug I prescribed in the first place, so I will take him off anti-dementia therapy for once and all!”	Prof. Dr. Monsch (English) Prof. Dr. Monsch (German)
Q4	What is your opinion regarding the use of neuroleptics (esp. atypical) in AD patients?	Dr. Abel (Spanish) Dr. Sobów (English) Dr. Sobów (Polish) Dr. Stecker (German) Prof. Dr. Hofmann (German)
Q5	Do you think that also classical anti-dementia treatments like cholinesterase inhibitors or NMDA receptor antagonists have an effect on behavioral symptoms themselves?	Dr. Sobów(English) Dr. Sobów (Polish)
Q6	“I don’t want to prescribe an antidementia drug because my patient has to take so many other medications already – and for more serious diseases than AD.”	Prof. Dr. Monsch (English) Prof. Dr. Monsch (German) Dr. Berthier (Spanish)
Q7	How do you define therapeutic success in patients with AD?	Dr. Stecker (German) Prof. Dr. Monsch (English)
Q8	What do you consider the main benefit of antidementia therapy?	Prof. Dr. Hofmann (German) Prof. Dr. Monsch (English) Dr. Berthier (Spanish)
Q9	“Why bother with AD therapy at all, the effects of antidementia drugs is way too low anyway!”	Prof. Dr. Monsch (English) Prof. Dr. Monsch (German) Dr. Berthier (English)
Q10	In which stage of the disease would you initiate treatment with an AD drug with neuroprotective potential?	Prof. Dr. Monsch (English) Prof. Dr. Monsch (German) Dr. Berthier (Spanish)
Q11	Which criteria are relevant in defining the duration of antidementia therapy?	Prof. Dr. Monsch (English) Prof. Dr. Monsch (German) Dr. Berthier (English) Dr. Berthier (Spanish)
Q12	Do you think that patients who are in a nursing home should be treated with AD therapy?	Prof. Dr. Monsch (English)
Q13	“Alzheimer therapy simply means prolonging the suffering and distress of the patient!”	Prof. Dr. Monsch (English) Prof. Dr. Monsch (German) Dr. Berthier (English) Dr. Berthier (Spanish)
Q14	What are the main reasons for hospitalization of AD patients?	Prof. Dr. Hofmann (German) Prof. Dr. Monsch (English) Dr. Sobów (Polish)
Q15	What is the main factor of distress for the caregiver? And how can the caregiver burden be relieved?	Prof. Dr. Hofmann (German) Dr. Sobów (English) Dr. Sobów (Polish)
Q16	A benefit of treatment with antidementia drugs has been shown in all three main domains cognition, function and behavior. In your opinion, which one has the biggest impact/relevance with regards to easing the caregiver burden?	Prof. Dr. Monsch (English) Dr. Sobów (Polish)
Q17	What is the relevance of AD therapeutics which have a positive effect on neuropsychiatric/behavioral symptoms?	Prof. Dr. Monsch (English) Dr. Stecker (German)

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