Wandering may become a serious problem. The most common physical complaint in Alzheimer's disease is unsteadiness of gait. The course of Alzheimer's disease is very variable, average survival being between 5 and 10 years. There is no single diagnostic test for Alzheimer's disease. The finding of diffuse cerebral atrophy on CT scanning and exclusion of other treatable causes of dementia usually leaves little doubt about the diagnosis.
Management is largely supportive.
The disease imposes huge strains on the spouse and family of the patient. Inevitably, many patients eventually require institutional care.