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With most diseases and disorders, early detection is key to getting the right treatment and perhaps even preventing the spread of the disease. That’s why it’s so important that you get a regular health assessment, and keep track of any changes in your physical condition. Alzheimer’s disease can’t be cured, but it’s a growing problem these days and a major concern for many seniors. It can also be difficult to diagnose, which prevents people with this disease from getting the treatment and help they need to cope with the effects of the disease. So any measures that will help you get the right diagnosis and start treatment as early as possible are well worth trying.
Alzheimer’s disease is a serious problem for individuals and for the health system. Because of the aging population of many western countries, it’s also becoming more common. Around 5.7 million people of all ages are living with Alzheimer’s at the moment in the US and it’s the sixth leading cause of death. It’s also notoriously hard to diagnose, and experts estimate that a guaranteed way to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease early could save the US up to 7.9 trillion dollars in care and medical costs. It’s characterized by declines in cognitive function, memory problems and sometimes personality changes.
Alzheimer’s disease can’t be cured, but with early diagnosis and treatment sufferers can enjoy the best health possible for as long as possible. Unfortunately, Alzheimer’s can go undiagnosed for years before cognitive impairments make the diagnosis obvious. Although Alzheimer’s can’t be cured or slowed, there are a number of benefits that come from early detection. Early detection means that sufferers and their families will have access to facilities and services that offer medical, emotional and social support and assistance. It also means that sufferers can participate in clinical trials, which could lead to new ways to combat the disease.
On the more serious side, having the right diagnosis early means that sufferers can better prepare for the future. They can make financial and legal plans while they’re still able to make good decisions and share their wishes. This may seem like a small and depressing benefit, but planning for the future is essential when someone has a disease that affects cognitive functions such as Alzheimer’s.
Getting an Alzheimer’s diagnosis can be fairly complicated. The disease progression and symptoms can be different from person to person, particularly in the early stages, so it can be hard to accurately identify. People with Alzheimer’s also tend to hide their disease progression. Nobody wants to think they’re losing their cognitive abilities, and their attempts to hide the truth from themselves can hide it from the people around them as well. This tendency can also confuse the results of your regular health assessment with your doctor. Usually Alzheimer’s disease is diagnosed years after the onset of the disease and after a lot of testing. This process includes looking for specific behavioural or personality changes, memory and cognition tests, taking a complete medical history, and performing some standard medical tests such as brain scans.
A recent study tested 274 participants who were at high risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease because of their family history. The study had participants take a scratch and sniff test and monitored their cerebrospinal fluid for protein markers associated with Alzheimer’s. The results showed that people who had more trouble identifying and detecting the variety of smells in the test also had more biological markers of Alzheimer’s disease. This link is not surprising, as the parts of the brain that are associated with memory and sense of smell are affected by the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.
These results suggest that there might someday be a simple and easy way to detect Alzheimer’s disease in its early stages. The use of smell tests could one day replace more invasive tests and allow the disease to be diagnosed early and treated earlier than current methods allow. This could offer a number of benefits for the patient, for the health system and for carers. This type of health assessment could even become part of your regular health tracking activities and be performed in the comfort and privacy of your own home.
If you’re concerned about conditions such as Alzheimer’s you should consider using tools such as HomeLab to keep track of your condition and any preventative measures you take. And if you see signs of a significant problem, you should check with your doctor as soon as possible.
Tags: Health assessment, health tracking, personal health
