The Preclinical Phase of Alzheimer Disease

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Abstract
THE "PRECLINICAL phase" of dementia refers to a period of cognitive decline that precedes the onset of Alzheimer disease (AD).1 Early detection of AD will be increasingly important as research advances with respect to prognostic methods and therapeutic interventions.2,3 Therefore, it is important to determine the time line and the earliest evidence of cognitive decline signaling the preclinical phase of AD and to identify specific neuropsychological tests that have clinical utility in the prediction of this disorder.