A recent report in the journal Brain indicates that ratings from family and friends better predict early signs of memory decline than do traditional medical screenings that are so commonly given to detect and monitor those with possible Alzheimer’s disease or other brain disorders that may be progressive. The questionnaire used in the study is called the Ascertain Dementia 8 and takes only about two minutes to complete. The Ascertain Dementia 8 provides a low cost screen to detect those who need more thorough follow-up evaluation to determine the causes of noted problems. This study is a reminder that a thorough evaluation for memory disorders requires both technical evaluation such as neuropsychological and medical tests and a thorough history. A good history is obtained not only from self-report (which can be tricky if you forget that you forget) but also […]
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I was recently moderating a support group for families caring for a parent or sibling with Alzheimer’s disease. One of the participants was 60 years old and after some discussion of her mother she turned and asked: “What about me?” She is noticing changes in her memory and concerned as was her 39 year old daughter sitting next to her. She reported no clear memory deficits but was worrying about her future and whether her current memory concerns were normal for her age, a result of the stress of caregiving, or signs that she may one day develop Alzheimer’s disease. I am hearing this question more and more. Clearly, there is an increased risk for developing Alzheimer’s if someone in your family is diagnosed with the disease. For example, I recall a retired physician who sought evaluation as he was […]
A new study in the journal Neurology asserts that a spinal tap can accurately detect the development of Alzheimer’s disease before symptoms appear. As quoted in The New Republic, “The unexpected presence of the AD signature in more than one-third of cognitively normal subjects suggests that Alzheimer’s pathology is active and detectable earlier than has heretofore been envisioned.” The “AD signature” is the presence of a protein called beta-amyloid in the spinal fluid. The implication is that people can be accurately diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease years before they develop symptoms. This all sounds so neat and clean like genetic testing for neurological diseases such as Huntington’s chorea. As technologies like spinal taps and brain scans become more available outside of research settings, there seems to be increased interest in using them as diagnostic tools. But I feel we are getting […]
