It is awkward to ask someone you know if they are having memory problems. Only 25% of family care practitioners reported feeling comfortable doing so. But the question can be life-saving now that we have sensitive markers for Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and exciting new drugs already on the market that can stop the disease in its tracks (https://becarelink.com/new-fda-approved-medicine-for-early-alzheimers/)
A recent study published in the June edition of Neurology included patients who were at risk for AD but had no clinical symptoms at the start of the study. The patients were imaged with PET scans of their brains which show the accumulation of amyloid (a protein), which is associated with AD. Additionally, the patients and someone close to them were asked questions about their cognitive skills, including had it changed over the previous year, were they misplacing objects and were they more reliant on lists and calendars than in the previous years.
The results showed that the abnormality seen in the scans correlated with greater report of change both the patient and by the person who helped them in the study. The researchers reported that early signs of brain changes aligned with greater self-reported and partner-reported decline in thinking skills. The same correlation was found between the degree of abnormality in formal cognitive testing and the report of change by the patient and their helper.
The important observation is that people and those with whom they interact may become aware of changes before their doctors do. So, to quote the signs in the subway station “If you see something, say something”.
BeCareLink can help with its BeCare Neuro App as a remote mobile phone assessment that individuals who believe they are at risk or who have noticed problems can take at home. If the test shows a lower performance than the general populations, they can contact their doctors for further evaluation and to begin memory-saving treatment.