Avaliação neuropsicológica na doença de Alzheimer: um estudo pelo método Delphi

Abstract

The accurate detection of an early stages of Alzheimer's disease is essential for assisting in the patient diagnosis. To this end, neuropsychological assessment is considered one of the main tools. In the present study we aimed to investigate, from the perspective of professionals working with neuropsychology, which are the main neuropsychological functions to be investigated in a neuropsychological assessment in early-stage Alzheimer's disease suspected cases in the elderly. To do that, the Delphi method was used as a way to include expert opinions on the subject. The research was divided into three rounds covering three questionnaires. Twenty-one graduated professionals with neuropsychology as their professional area participated. From the group consensus a classification of twenty-three main neuropsychological functions was generated. The purpose of the classification was to provide a current overview of neuropsychological assessment in the early stages of Alzheimer's Disease and to assist the practice in the clinical neuropsychology area, by providing data and knowledge of specialists in the field.