More and More Older Americans Want to Know Their Alzheimer's Status

June is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, and Gaurang Palikh, MD is here to talk to us about this neurodegenerative disease. More than 7 million people in the United States are now living with Alzheimer’s. According to a national survey, older Americans want to know if they are in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease and would happily take a blood test to find out.

As part of a report from the Alzheimer’s Association, the survey of 1,700 people 45 and older finds:

• Nearly 4 in 5 respondents (79%) would want to know they had the disease before symptoms began to interfere with their daily activities. 
• 80% said they would ask a doctor to be tested, rather than waiting for a test to be offered. 
• 91% said they’d want a blood biomarker test, or some other simple test, if one were available. 
• 92% said that if diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, they would probably or definitely want to take a drug that could slow down the disease’s progression. 
• 58% said they would take an Alzheimer’s drug even if it had a moderate or high risk of side effects. 
• 83% said that, if diagnosed, they would be open to participating in a clinical trial of an experimental treatment to slow or cure the disease. 
• 81% expect that in the next decade, treatments will arrive that can halt the progression of Alzheimer’s. 
• 44% say they are worried that insurance will not cover treatment and care if a test indicates they have the disease. 

People used to be more afraid of knowing if they had the disease. Why the change?

• Testing is easier than ever before, including several blood tests that can indicate the presence of amyloid plaques in the brain, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s.
• Drug treatments for early stages are now available, including lecanemab and donanemab.
• People are more optimistic about making treatment decisions before losing the capability to make their own decisions.

At Catawba Valley Neurology, where Dr. Palikh practices, an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, once a very difficult process, is now easier than ever with a simple blood test. This allows us to diagnose Alzheimer’s at an earlier stage even before symptoms are obvious.  If you have a strong family history or early signs of memory loss, seeing a neurologist to get screen is simple and easy. He said, “Now that we have new therapies to treat Alzheimer’s, it’s critical to get screened early and intervene to slow down Alzheimer’s progression at an early stage to ensure that you can keep your cherished memories and stay independent for as long as possible.”

Recognizing the signs of Alzheimer’s is crucial to getting an early diagnosis. The early signs of Alzheimer’s are:

1) Memory loss that disrupts daily life – The most common sign of Alzheimer’s is forgetting recently learned information, forgetting important dates or events, asking the same questions over and over, and increasingly needing to rely on memory aids like written reminders, alarms, or family members for things they used to handle on their own. This memory loss is more pronounced than typical age-related issues like occasionally forgetting names or appointments, but remembering them later.

2) Challenges in planning or solving problems – Some people living with changes in their memory due to Alzheimer’s may experience changes in their ability to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers. They may have trouble following a familiar recipe or keeping track of monthly bills. They may have difficulty concentrating and take much longer to do things than they did before. This is more than typical age-related changes, like making occasional errors when managing finances or household bills.

3) Difficulty completing familiar tasks – People living with memory changes from Alzheimer’s often find it hard to complete daily tasks. Sometimes they may have trouble driving to a familiar location, organizing a grocery list or remembering the rules of a favorite game. This is more than typical age-related changes, like occasionally needing help to use the microwave or to record a TV show.

4) Confusion with time or place – People living with Alzheimer’s or other dementia can lose track of dates, seasons and the passage of time. They may have trouble understanding something if it is not happening immediately. Sometimes they may forget where they are or how they got there. This confusion is more pronounced than typical age-related changes, like getting confused about the day of the week but figuring it out later.

5) Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships – Some people living with Alzheimer’s could experience vision changes. This may lead to difficulty with balance or trouble reading. They may also have problems judging distance and determining color or contrast, causing issues with driving. These vision changes are not caused by other conditions, like cataracts.

6) New problems with words in speaking or writing – People living with Alzheimer’s may have trouble following or joining a conversation. They may stop in the middle of a conversation and have no idea how to continue or they may repeat themselves. They may struggle with vocabulary, have trouble naming a familiar object or use the wrong name (e.g., calling a “watch” a “hand-clock”). Language problems are worse than typical age-related issues, like sometimes having trouble finding the right word.

7) Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps – A person living with Alzheimer’s may put things in unusual places. They may lose things and be unable to go back over their steps to find them again. He or she may accuse others of stealing, especially as the disease progresses. This is unlike typical age-related issues, like misplacing things from time to time and being able to retrace steps to find them.

8) Decreased or poor judgment – Individuals living with Alzheimer’s may experience changes in judgment or decision-making. For example, they may use poor judgment when dealing with money or pay less attention to personal hygiene. This is unlike typical mistakes or poor decision-making, like sometimes neglecting to change the oil in the car.

9) Withdrawal from work or social activities – A person living with Alzheimer’s may experience changes in the ability to hold or follow a conversation. As a result, they may withdraw from hobbies, social activities or other engagements. They may have trouble keeping up with a favorite team or activity. This is unlike typical age-related changes, like sometimes feeling uninterested in family or social obligations.

10) Changes in mood and personality – Individuals living with Alzheimer’s or other dementia may experience mood and personality changes. They can become confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful or anxious. They may be easily upset at home, with friends or when out of their comfort zone. This is unlike typical age-related changes, like developing very specific ways of doing things and becoming irritable when a routine is disrupted.

If you notice any of the early signs of Alzheimer’s in yourself or someone you know, don’t ignore them. Schedule an appointment with your doctor. With early detection, you can explore treatments that may provide some relief of symptoms and help you maintain a level of independence longer. 

To learn more about the providers and services available at Catawba Valley Neurology, visit CatawbaValleyHealth.org/Neurology.