Over five million American citizens are estimated to have Alzheimer’s Disease at a stage where they’re displaying symptoms. Another five million likely have it in an early form, where they’re not able to be diagnosed because they haven’t shown signs there’s a growing cognitive problem. Alzheimer’s Disease remains a major cause of death for the elderly, and out of the top ten causes is the only one that lacks any viable way to treat it.
Diagnosing Alzheimer’s Disease is complicated by the fact that it doesn’t begin to manifest visible symptoms until it’s at a more progressed stage. What help doctors and the medical community can provide work best if started as early as possible, but many patients are already in cognitive decline when they or their doctors become aware of the problem.
Current diagnosis criteria have focused mostly on examining neurological symptoms, including an evaluation of cognitive function. Some medical professionals are pushing for revised screening that could increase early detection. More recent research into Alzheimer’s has pointed to biological factors that can be tested for, which would allow the disease to be detected even if it is not yet manifesting symptoms in the patient. This would save having to wait for cognitive impairment to appear before looking more closely at how to help the patient.
Proposed new guidelines may help doctors diagnose Alzheimer’s sooner; helping you or a loved one. #HealthStatus
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Key Points:
- 1Over ten million Americans have Alzheimer’s Disease; half of those at an early stage that isn’t symptomatic yet.
- 2Diagnosing Alzheimer’s Disease is difficult because by the time cognitive symptoms appear, the patient has a more advanced stage of the disease.
- 3Some medical associations are calling for revisions in how Alzheimer’s Disease is screened for and diagnosed, to hopefully improve earlier detection.
See the original at: https://www.alzheimers.net/updating-guidelines-for-alzheimers/
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