Forgetting phone numbers and addresses, misplacing things, or having word finding difficulties? Learn how Alzheimer’s dementia is diagnosed and promising treatments on the horizon.
Difference between Normal Aging and Dementia
Your memory changes as you grow older. When these changes interfere with your social and occupational functioning, you may have dementia.
Dementia is a general term for a group of neurodegenerative disorders that affect your cognitive abilities and behavior. There are many types of dementia. Alzheimer’s is the most common type of dementia making up 60-80% of cases.
3 Stages of Dementia?
Signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease can range from mild to severe.
MILD Alzheimer’s disease:
- Trouble remembering new information
- Forgetting location of familiar places
- Trouble handling money and paying bills
- Mood and personality changes; increased anxiety and agitation
MODERATE Alzheimer’s disease:
- Poor attention span
- Not able to recognize family and friends
- Difficulty with reading, writing and calculations
- Repeating the same statements
- Inappropriate behaviors and hallucinations/delusions
SEVERE Alzheimer’s disease:
- Not eating and weight loss
- Unintelligible sounds like groaning, moaning, grunting
- Lack of bladder and bowel control
How is Alzheimer’s dementia diagnosed?
Our neurologists will take a careful history and perform a neurological examination including a mental status examination.
You may be sent for blood tests to check your vitamin levels, thyroid hormone level, and signs of infection.
You may also be sent for brain imaging studies such as a CAT scan or MRI to exclude other diseases that can affect your memory.
In certain situations, you may undergo an electroencephalography (EEG) to measure your brain wave and make sure you do not have seizures. Neurotest of New York offers high quality EEG performed and interpreted by board-certified, fellowship trained neurologists.
What are the risk factors for Alzheimer’s dementia?
The greatest risk factor for Alzheimer’s is increasing age. However, there are a number of risk factors that are modifiable including:
- Hypertension
- Hearing impairment
- Smoking
- Obesity
- Depression
- Physical inactivity
- Diabetes
- Low education level
- Low social contact
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Traumatic brain injury
- Air pollution
Treatments for Dementia
There is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s. Treatment is aimed at the symptoms of memory, behavior, and sleep changes. Drugs such as cholinesterase inhibitors (Aricept) and glutamate regulators (Namenda) do not stop brain cell degeneration but may help lessen or stabilize cognitive symptoms for a limited time.
The best treatment shown to improve symptoms and delay cognitive decline is routine physical exercise and brain stimulating activities (i.e. Sudoku, puzzles, crosswords, new hobbies).
The FDA recently approved the monoclonal antibody drug, Aducanumab (Aduhelm), the first drug aimed at reducing amyloid plaques. Amyloid is a microprotein that accumulates into plaques in the brain causing damage. A reduction in amyloid plaques is postulated to lead to clinical benefits for a limited time. Aducanumab is administered intravenously via a 45-60-minute infusion every 4 weeks. Side effects can include brain swelling, headache, bleeding and fall.
Meet our Neurologists To discuss your options today!
References:
Livingston, Gill et al. Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2020 report of the Lancet Commission. The Lancet, Volume 396, Issue 10248, 413 – 446
Lakhan, SE et al. May 2019. Alzheimer’s disease. www.emedicine.medscape.com