OBJECTIVES: Dementia and its subtypes like Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are among the world’s most important causes for disabilities in elderly people. In Germany, about two thirds of dementia patients are affected by AD. Treatment options for AD and in particular for mild AD are limited. To spark discussions on current treatment schemes and standards in mild AD a Delphi survey among clinical experts has been conducted.

METHODS: The survey has been performed using the Delphi panel technique, which is a structured approach, utilizing the expertise of experts to provide evidence in a consensus-driven approach. A web-based structured questionnaire was developed. Consensus was defined at 75% agreement of the participants to consolidated results after three iterative rounds of questioning. Physicians from various specialties (inpatient and outpatient care sector) working in urban and rural regions distributed over Germany were recruited for this survey.

RESULTS: CONCLUSIONS: Even though evidence for the efficacy of memantine in mild AD is limited, it is assumed to be prescribed for the treatment in mild AD. This may be an indicator for the lack of treatment options for mild AD and therefore, further research might be considered.