Recent Advances in the Early Detection of Alzheimer's

Although scientists have yet to find a cure for Alzheimer's disease, medications do exist that can halt the degeneration process and delay institutionalization for years if the disease is discovered early enough, providing patients and their families precious time. Since an early diagnosis is critically important, recent research has focused on new ways of detecting Alzheimer's disease before symptoms even begin. For example, uncovering risk factors that may lead to the development of Alzheimer's can provide physicians with the knowledge they need to make an early diagnosis. Previously known risk factors include old age, a genetic predisposition for Alzheimer's, poor education, and head injuries. Researchers have also found that problems with the cardiovascular system, such as sudden drops in blood pressure and strokes, could precede the development of Alzheimer's disease. Accordingly, diabetes, which is a common risk factor for cardiovascular disease, has also been linked to Alzheimer's, and hormone replacement therapy, which can cause strokes, can actually increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease in post-menopausal women. The findings on Hormone Replacement Therapy contradicted earlier research that indicated estrogen had a protective effect for women's brains. Inflammation has also been linked to Alzheimer's, and researchers have found that common lifelong infections, such as the different type of Herpes infections, which lead to cold sores and mononucleosis, could cause prolonged inflammation and increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease. Finally, in several studies, bouts of depression and weight loss were found to precede the onset of symptoms in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

As important as early detection is for a patient's health, experts do not yet recommend screening for Alzheimer's before symptoms of cognitive impairment actually begin. Current screening methods are based on a certain level of memory difficulty that patients need to have already developed, which sometimes leads to a false negative result. Considering that doctors must rely on pre-existing cognitive impairment in a patient in order to make an accurate diagnosis, researchers are turning to advanced technology that monitors structural changes in the brain that could suggest Alzheimer's before symptoms even begin. For example, PET scans and MRIs provide two new promising ways of detecting Alzheimer's early. In addition, lab tests checking for markers of Alzheimer's disease in spinal and cerebral fluid are also being developed. Even screening for genetic markers in patients with a family history could aid physicians in detecting Alzheimer's.

While detecting Alzheimer's early is incredibly important, researchers are also studying ways of preventing the disease, offering older adults suggestions for some simple lifestyle changes that can decrease their chances of getting Alzheimer's disease. Researchers are finding that environmental factors can be as important as biological factors. For example, keeping the mind active through mentally stimulating activities, such as dance and chess, and keeping the body healthy with good nutrition and exercise can be powerful protectors against the disease. Recent research has also found that vitamin B-12 and high levels of good cholesterol can protect against Alzheimer's; therefore, consulting a physician about vitamin supplements and ways to boost good cholesterol could provide extra insurance against developing the disease.

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