Early Detection in Alzheimer’s Disease

Despite all the attention that Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has garnered in recent years, most people are receiving a diagnosis late in the disease course, often years after the symptoms have started. This delay in recognition may be due to several factors including:

1. The general perception in our society that memory loss is a “normal” part of aging
2. The impaired awareness of memory decline by the patient himself
3. Insufficient time spent by the physician
4. No definitive diagnostic test

Yet, it is also becoming generally accepted that early recognition of AD will be critical if we are to realize the maximal effect of therapeutic agents. New techniques to image the brain reveal changes of AD beginning years—even decades—before symptoms become obvious. And as treatments that slow disease progression are developed, they are likely to have the greatest impact the earlier in the disease process they are initiated.

How, then, does one recognize AD early? The fundamental symptom is a change or decline from a previous level of function, be it in memory, behavior or other mental skills. If you or your loved one are experiencing such a change, it does warrant obtaining a thorough examination by your physician.

Exciting work is being done at the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, in collaboration with investigators throughout the nation, to come up with a more specific test to identify AD at its earliest stages. Click here for information on how you can participate.