Diagnosing Alzheimer’s Disease

The Alzheimer’s Association calculates that more than 5 million American are currently living with Alzheimer’s disease. It is now the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, killing an estimated 500,000 people each year. However, many of these patients are not diagnosed until the symptoms of the disease have already become apparent.  There are now more promising methods for diagnosing senior sufferers in Briarwood.

Importance of Early Detection

One of the most challenging aspects of Alzheimer’s Disease, the most common form of dementia, is actually diagnosing the condition which can be mistaken for several other cognitive disorders. As with most things, early detection will enable you to be diagnosed and get treatment earlier. Though there is no known cure at this time for Alzheimer’s disease, treatment can slow the progression or even reverse some aspects of the disease. Moreover, starting treatment before the full-blown symptoms appear is often effective and quality of life enhancing for our elderly.

New Study and Memory Loss

There is new research to suggest that those seniors who are experiencing memory loss, may very well be more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease. Let’s look at some of the risk factors and evidence to support this for seniors.

A study in the May 2024 issue of Neurology tested healthy seniors who had concerns about their memory loss. The participants were questioned about their memory loss and how they felt their abilities stacked up to their capabilities in the past year. Those who expressed experiencing a decline were given brain scans.

New Findings

The brain scans looked for both amyloid plaques (protein buildup between cells/neurons) and tau tangles (protein buildup within brain cells). Sadly, 60% of participants had elevated amyloid plaques. Researchers are not clear on how this effects memory loss, but they feel the lack of integrity of the neural networks likely contributes to memory loss. Unfortunately, relatively cognitively healthy people may have these neurological markers without knowing it. Moreover, the lack of cognition can show up to general family and friends much later.

Early Warning Signs

Early warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease include the following:

• Constantly asking the same question
• Forgetting ideas or words as you are speaking
• Using the wrong word to identify something while in conversation
• Completing tasks takes much longer than normal
• Getting uncharacteristically lost when walking or driving in a familiar place
• Shift in mood or behavior without a discernable reason

There are also risk factors to consider when thinking about whether you need to take these warning signs even more seriously. These include:

• Lack of physical activity
• Lack of mental stimulation
• Smoking
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Diabetes
• Stroke
• Heart attack
• High blood pressure
• Obesity

If you or a loved one is experiencing at least 3 of these early warning signs and has risk factors, it may be a good idea to see a neurologist or geriatrician.

Vision Problems as a Siren

It seems that changes associated with the brain may also impact the eyes. Something called posterior cortical atrophy or Benson’s Syndrome seems to be extremely correlated with Alzheimer’s disease. This syndrome causes the cells in the back of the brain responsible for vision to die. In fact, 94% of those with this disorder were found to have Alzheimer’s.

Symptoms of Benson’s Syndrome include issues with vision as they relate to:

• Difficulty reading and discerning faces
• Poor judgment with respect to spatial relationships
• Degraded driving skills
• Confusing left and right
• Anxiety
• Confusion
• Behavioral changes (which is also a symptom of Alzheimer’s)

Researchers report that about 5-15% of those with Alzheimer’s disease suffer from this rare eye condition as well. Back to that astounding 94% figure – while almost all patients with Benson’s have Alzheimer’s, the other 6% have lewy body disease or frontal lobar degeneration. All this adds up to the importance of the elderly having regular eye exams and screenings. Again, early detection is the best way to manage Alzheimer’s at this time.

Loss of Smell as Warning

Over 13% of the worldwide population carry the gene APOEe4 which has been found to increase your chance of getting Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, 40% of those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s have this gene. A new study has found that these people may experience an impaired sense of smell before other symptoms of the disease emerge. This lack of smell in older adults may be the “canary in the coal mine” that signals this dreaded diagnosis is on the horizon. The study concluded that compromised odor sensitivity was a precursor to impaired cognitive abilities in carriers of this gene.

Biomarkers Test

Blood and cerebral spinal fluid tests  that test for certain proteins in the blood are commercially available. They check for biomarkers of Alzheimer’s such as:

• Beta amyloid 42 and beta amyloid 40
• Phosphorlated tau 181 and the total tau concentration

These are very technically sounding proteins, but their presence in patients signals that an Alzheimer’s diagnosis is usually called for.

However, the latest thinking is there is no longer a need to do invasive spinal taps. An existing blood test alone is just as good. This test will detect large changes in p-tau217 which indicate changes in the above-mentioned proteins. In fact, these tests had a 97% accuracy rate. This simple blood test is not only less bothersome but is more economical than the traditional MRI, PET, or CT scans that are also used for this purpose.

Value of Early Treatment

Understandably, many would rather hide their heads in the sand and avoid hearing this frightening diagnosis. That was more justifiable when an Alzheimer’s diagnosis was more like a final blow with nothing but treatment of symptoms in the offing. However, at this point, there are very compelling reasons to for early diagnosis.

1. Drugs such as cholinesterase inhibitors, lecanemab, and memantine are being brought to market that can slow the progression of the decease. They are best used early in disease progression. As such, the earlier the diagnosis the less damage there is to ameliorate.
2. More research is underway that has proven that with some lifestyle and nutritional changes, reversing Alzheimer’s disease is less of a pipe dream and more of a reality. Check out the work of Food for the Brain Foundation to learn more about this exciting possibility.
3. Scoping out living arrangements for elderproofing a home for safety or for a more suitable residence should that become necessary while the patient is still viable will also ensure that the patients are happier in those eventualities.
4. The earlier you develop support networks and nail them in place, the more ready you are when called on in an emergent basis. Everyone will have the peace of mind when they know who is responsible for what should an urgent situation arise.

Basically, the thinking is forewarned is forearmed which can only help our seniors with Alzheimer’s disease live as many healthy and fulfilling years as possible.

David York Agency Homecare Helps Seniors in Briarwood

At David York Agency, we understand the many challenges and risks faced by the aging and elderly. We are dedicated to providing care to support them through all of those ups and downs. At David York Home Healthcare Agency, extraordinary service is what sets us apart from other companies in Briarwood that provide in home healthcare services.

 

DYA we could provide direction as to how to manage the total care of your senior loved one. Whatever your care needs, we are there for you, always striving to exceed your expectations. For more information about David York Agency’s qualified, compassionate caregivers, contact us at (718) 376-7755. A free phone consultation can help you determine what services would meet your needs. We aim to provide you and your loved one with the assistance they need. If you’d like to hear more from us, please like us on Facebook or follow us on X or LinkedIn.

 

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