Alzheimer’s is a neurodegenerative disease that affects millions of people across the globe. For a long time, we were under the impression that memory loss was a good way to detect Alzheimer’s, but often we find by then the disease is in its advanced stages. “A major problem of Alzheimer’s diagnosis, and ultimately effective treatment, is that by the time the first clinical symptoms appear, irreversible damage to the brain has already occurred,” confirms Dr. Seth Gale, a neurologist at Harvard’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital. “It is now believed that Alzheimer’s-related changes begin in the brain at least a decade before any symptoms emerge.”

There may not be a cure for Alzheimer’s yet even though there are a number of tools to manage the condition such as medication and aspirators, but early detection of the disease makes people’s chances of getting the help that’s effective and needed much more likely. Those that have been diagnosed with the disease early on can take part in clinical trials and test out the latest therapies on offer. Some can also benefit from taking FDA approved medications and taking part in activities such as aerobic exercising and social stimulation. Not only can this help those with early stage Alzheimer’s improve their emotional status, it can also improve their cognitive performance in routine tasks.

Early Diagnostic Techniques

• Changes in behavior: Previous research has confirmed a link between the sudden onset of anxiety, irritability, and restlessness with the development of Alzheimer’s. “Observational studies have found that people with these behavior changes are more likely to develop cognitive issues,” said Dr. Gale. “It may be that these changes are a reflection of early development of plaques and tangles, but this not entirely clear.”
• Blood tests: Researchers are on the verge of developing a blood test that diagnose the early onset of Alzheimer’s by measuring certain associated proteins within the body. In a study carried out in 2014, out of the 1,100 people tested that were suffering with mild cognitive impairment, 87% would later be diagnosed with dementia according to the levels of 10 proteins. Another similar study was carried out two years later in 2016 which involved taking blood from 292 people showing early signs of memory impairment. Results from the study showed there were changes in certain protein levels that appeared in those that went on to develop Alzheimer’s, opposed to those who did not.
• Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans: Researchers use radioactive tracers to inject into the body through special dyes. The dye allows researchers to track movement of the tracers and see the way in which the brain cells are processing energy. Any change could indicate the onset of Alzheimer’s. “Research is still being conducted to determine what amount of plaques and tangles indicates a risk of developing Alzheimer’s symptoms or having the disease itself,” says Dr. Gale. “But PET tracers are the closest means yet that researchers and doctors have for identifying these protein clumps in living patients.” The only real disadvantage to PET scans is the cost. While Medicare and some private insurance companies sometimes cover PET scans, it’s usually only the older type that simply looks at how brain cells process energy. The newer ones are more comprehensive, showing the actual buildup of plaques and tangles, but range from between $4,500 to $6,000.
• Family history: Unfortunately, those who have a close relative with Alzheimer’s are more at risk of contracting the disease.
• Cognitive testing: With Medicare, people are eligible for an evaluation of their cognitive impairment as part of their annual wellness visit. It simply involves going through a short questionnaire that looks at and assesses different aspects of mental skills including language, attention, visuospatial perception, and of course memory. Even though the effectiveness of identifying Alzheimer’s early using these tests remains unknown they still enable doctors to recognize an emerging memory problem that may not have been evident.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans: These scans help detect patterns of irregular tissue loss that may indicate the onset of Alzheimer’s. They can also identify other causes of cognitive changes such as silent strokes. They may not be effective enough on their own to diagnose Alzheimer’s, but used in conjunction with the results from other tests, they could certainly help.

Depression

On recent study suggested that depression in older age could indicate the onset of Alzheimer’s. It demonstrated how people with depressive symptoms had higher levels of amyloid protein buildup in their brains than those who showed no signs of depression.

Published: 2020-08-01 22:46:05