NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS: CLINICAL ASPECTS AND EPIDEMIOLOGY OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

Abstract

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder worldwide, accounting for approximately 70% of dementia cases in older adults. The present study aims to analyse the clinical and epidemiological aspects of AD through a literature review of ten scientific articles, with emphasis on scientific advances between 2020 and 2025. The databases consulted were Web of Science, PubMed, SciELO, LILACS, and Scopus, in addition to official data from the World Health Organization (WHO), DATASUS of the Ministry of Health (MS), the Brazilian Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology (SBGG), and the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). Controlled descriptors were used according to DeCS (Health Sciences Descriptors): “Alzheimer Disease” [Doença de Alzheimer], “Epidemiology” [Epidemiologia], combined with the Boolean operators “AND” and “OR”. A continuous increase in the prevalence and mortality rates of Alzheimer’s disease was observed, particularly in developing countries. Advanced age, low educational level, hypertension, and diabetes were highlighted as risk factors, whereas physical activity, balanced diet, and cognitive stimulation appeared to have protective effects. From a clinical perspective, recent guidelines prioritise early diagnosis based on biomarkers and multifactorial interventions. It is concluded that, despite diagnostic and therapeutic advances, challenges remain related to inequalities in access to healthcare services and the need for professional training in disease management.