The Importance of Early Detection: Alzheimer’s Awareness Month Spotlight
November is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month. Almost 7 million people in America live with Alzheimer’s. With rates continuing to rise, the importance of early detection cannot be overstated. Recognizing Alzheimer’s in its early stages allows individuals and families to prepare for the future, make informed decisions, and access crucial resources. Early intervention isn’t just about planning—it’s about empowering those affected to take control of their care and enhance their quality of life.
Online resources, like Trualta, can help you learn more about Alzheimer’s, dementia, and practical caregiving tips. Check if you have free access.
In this article, we’ll review:
- The key benefits of early detection for Alzheimer’s disease
- How Alzheimer’s is diagnosed, including common tests and evaluations
- The difference between normal aging and early signs of dementia
What Are The Benefits Of Early Detection?
Let’s take a look at the benefits of early detection of Alzheimer’s disease:
- You can begin making informed decisions about plans for the future. For example, health decisions, caregiving choices, living arrangements, and financial planning.
- You can be actively involved in making decisions. Often, people find out about a dementia diagnosis when they’re already facing significant cognitive decline; this can pose challenges when it comes to making decisions you feel okay with. Finding out about dementia early on can promote autonomy.
- You and your caregivers can learn more about what to expect. Early detection gives you more time to research and discuss what disease progression may look like with healthcare professionals.
- You can advocate for your wishes and care plans.
- You can begin to access resources. Getting a diagnosis earlier on can give you and your caregivers more time to find and receive resources like financial support, healthcare services, support groups, or respite care.
- You can begin treatment. You may decide to use drug treatments to reduce symptoms of dementia or pursue alternative treatment methods like therapy (occupational therapy, social work, physical therapy, speech-language pathology, etc.). Early diagnosis can help you address symptoms and live a more meaningful life in the years ahead.
How Is Alzheimer’s Disease Diagnosed?
Researchers believe the brain changes that cause Alzheimer’s disease begin 20 years before the onset of symptoms. A person can be diagnosed with the disease once symptoms start to occur. When a person begins developing symptoms that don’t have a large impact on daily life, they’re deemed to have mild cognitive impairment. Alzheimer’s is a degenerative brain disease, meaning that the disease and symptoms get worse over time. Once symptoms intensify and begin affecting daily life, the stages of the disease progress from mild to moderate and severe.
The disease can be diagnosed in various ways and may involve several professionals.
Early Detection
Brain imaging is often involved in the early diagnosis of the disease. An MRI, fMRI, CT scan, or PET scan can be completed to examine the structure of the brain or how the brain cells are functioning.
Genetic profiling can be done to determine whether a person has one of the genes that put them at risk for developing the disease. However, since genetics are not proven to be the only cause of developing Alzheimer’s, genetic profiling doesn’t guarantee whether the person will develop the disease or not.
Diagnosis
There isn’t one single test that can determine whether a person has Alzheimer’s dementia. Rather, many tests are performed, and information is gathered from a number of sources. A healthcare team may:
- Call upon multiple professionals. For example, a geriatrician and occupational therapist can help with performing cognitive tests on memory, insight, and problem-solving skills, and provide formal and informal observations about daily functioning.
- Ask the person and family members for observations. It’s important for the person and their family to document and report any observations they make about potential dementia symptoms, as the healthcare team will use these insights to make a diagnosis.
- Perform a physical exam to determine if any physical symptoms are present.
- Perform a larger battery of tests, like blood tests or scans for different diseases, in order to rule them out.
- Order genetic testing, brain scans, or spinal fluid sampling.
Using all information gathered, a doctor will determine whether symptoms are due to Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia.
Normal Vs. Not Normal
Understanding normal signs of aging can help you determine whether you should seek help for early detection. Remember, it’s better to be safe than sorry. If you have any doubts, check with your doctor for appropriate action.
Normal Signs Of Aging
- Forgetting appointments but remembering them soon after
- Occasionally making small errors, like forgetting to pay a bill but remembering a few days later
- Needing help with new technology
- Making mistakes
- Misplacing things sometimes, but being able to retrace steps and find them
- Having trouble remembering the right word to use sometimes
- No longer feeling obligated to participate in activities that don’t interest you
Not Normal
- Forgetting important dates or events
- Relying on family members to remember things you used to remember before
- Asking the same questions repeatedly
- Challenges completing familiar tasks
- Challenges with following a plan or completing tasks that require multiple steps
- Losing track of the date
- Challenges understanding where you are or how you got there
- Challenges with vocabulary
- Challenges having or following a conversation
- Withdrawal from usual activities or apathy
- Mood changes, like aggression or irritability
What You Can Do Next
It’s normal to feel nervous about the possibility of Alzheimer’s Disease. However, it’s important not to delay seeking action. If you notice any signs of dementia in yourself or your loved ones, or if you’re worried about your risk, don’t hesitate to ask for help. Early detection matters.
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