DETECT ALZHEIMERS

DETECT ALZHEIMERS

FAQ’s

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia; it starts with memory loss and gets worse over time. There is no cure, but there are treatment options that may improve some symptoms and some treatments aim to slow or delay the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.1

Scientists don’t know precisely what causes Alzheimer’s Disease, but it is related to the accumulation of proteins in the brain, specifically amyloid plaques and tau neurofibrillary tangles, that lead to brain degeneration.1

Life expectancy for patients with Alzheimer’s disease generally varies between 3 to 10 years after diagnosis.2

Risk factors for Alzheimer’s Disease include1:

Increasing age

Family History

Traumatic head injury

Depression

Cardiovascular disease

Cerebrovascular disease

Higher parental age

Smoking

Increased homocysteine levels

Presence of Apolipoprotein (APOE) e4 allele

It is estimated that nearly 40 million people are living with Alzheimer’s disease worldwide.  Symptoms of the disease usually appear after the age of 65, but can occur in a small percentage of younger patients (early Alzheimer’s).3

Stages of Alzheimer’s disease are pre-clinical, mild, moderate, and severe.1

The earliest and most common symptom of Alzheimer’s disease is short-term memory loss. Symptoms tend to get worse as the disease progresses, and include1,2:

  • Memory loss
  • Judgment/problem-solving difficulties
  • Trouble completing familiar tasks
  • Problems communicating, both speaking and writing
  • Time/place confusion
  • Vision/spatial issues
  • Social withdrawal
  • Mood changes like apathy and irritability
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Problems with movement

There is no guaranteed method of preventing Alzheimer’s Disease. However, some studies suggest that adopting a healthy lifestyle, including diet modifications and regular exercise, may decrease the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. In addition, participating in mentally stimulating activities like reading, playing music, and social activities may also decrease AD risk.1,3

Early diagnosis can benefit people with Alzheimer’s disease by allowing them more time for treatment as well as  long-term planning and family communication. Alzheimer’s disease is typically diagnosed via1,4:

Gathering information from family members and caregivers

Physical exam including neurological findings

Cognitive testing, looking at memory, problem-solving, etc.

Blood tests looking for biomarkers

Neuroimaging, like MRI, PET, and other scans

Ruling out other potential causes of dementia

While there is no cure for Alzheimer’s Disease, several treatment options are available aimed at improving quality of life and cognitive function. Medications like donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine, and memantine may help decrease the symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease. A class of medications called anti-amyloid monoclonal antibodies, may slow the protein deposition and brain shrinkage that is characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease1,2.

A new diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease can be challenging to both the person affected and their family. Keeping an open line of communication with the healthcare team can help with finding clinical trials and dealing with tough decisions. Future planning, like addressing financial, legal, and end-of-life issues should be addressed as soon as possible. Societies, associations, and support groups can offer both patients and caregivers a place to share concerns, get helpful tips, and receive emotional support. Examples include:

A number of websites provide information required for obtaining financial information for patients and their caregivers. Examples include:

References

  1. Kumar A, Sidhu J, Goyal A, et al. Alzheimer Disease. StatPearls. 2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499922/
  2. Zanetti O, Solerte SB, Cantoni F. Life expectancy in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2009;49 Suppl 1:237-243.
  3. World Health Organization. Dementia. March 15, 2023. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dementia/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAivGuBhBEEiwAWiFmYXomiIv8YfJMe-LdqnH8NMC-ll929dagsPJ2niJIDeMQkbYOH1wnRBoC1oAQAvD_BwE.
  4. National Institute on Aging (NIA). Alzheimer’s Disease Fact Sheet. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/alzheimers-disease-fact-sheet

All URLs accessed on February 14, 2024.

What is Alzheimer's?

Treating Alzheimer's

Living with Alzheimer's

Resources and Alzheimer’s Network

Patient Journey

FAQ's

What is Alzheimer's?

Treating Alzheimer's

Living with Alzheimer's

Resources and Alzheimer’s Network

Patient Journey

FAQ's

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Scientific Council

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Scientific Council
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Scientific Council

Marc Agronin, MD

Chief Medical Officer
Frank C. and Lynn Scaduto MIND Institute and Behavioral Health
Miami Jewish Health
Miami, FL

Liana G. Apostolova, MD, MSc, FAAN

Associate Dean of Alzheimer’s Disease Research
Indiana University Distinguished Professor
Barbara and Peer Baekgaard Professor of Alzheimer's Disease Research
Professor in Neurology, Radiology, Medical and Molecular Genetics
Indiana University School of Medicine
Department of Neurology
Indianapolis, IN

Alireza Atri, MD, PhD

Chief Medical Officer, Banner Research
Banner Alzheimer’s and Research Institutes
Pheonix, Sun City, and Tucson, AZ
Director, Banner Sun Health Research Institute
Sun City, AZ

Natalie Christian, MD

Assistant Professor, Geriatrics
Program Director, Geriatric Medicine Fellowship
Tulane University School of Medicine
Southeast Louisiana Veterans Healthcare System
New Orleans, LA

Ariel F. Cole, MD, FAAFP

Program Director, AdventHealth Geriatric Fellowship
Winter Park, FL

Brad Dickerson, MD, MMSc, FAAN, FANPA

Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School
Director, Frontotemporal Disorders Unit, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, MA

James M. Ellison, MD, MPH

Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior
Sidney Kimmel Medical College
Co-Director, Comprehensive Alzheimer’s Center
Vickie & Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience
Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia, PA

Richard M. Dupee, MD, MACP, AGSF

Clinical Professor of Medicine
Tufts University School of Medicine
Clinical professor, Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University
Chief, Geriatrics Service, Tufts Medical Center
Senior Physician, Pratt Diagnostic Center
Dean ex officio, Office of International Affairs, Tufts University School of Medicine
Boston, MA

James E. Galvin, MD, MPH

Professor of Neurology
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Miami, FL

David S. Geldmacher, MD

Professor and Director
Division of Memory Disorders and Behavioral Neurology
Department of Neurology
Heersink School of Medicine
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, AL

George T. Grossberg, MD

Henry & Amelia Nasrallah Endowed Professor
Director of Geriatric Psychiatry
Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neuroscience
Saint Louis University School of Medicine
St. Louis, MO

Scott A. Kaiser, MD

Director of Geriatric Cognitive Health
Pacific Neuroscience Institute
Santa Monica, CA
Adjunct Professor
USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology
Los Angeles, CA

Lynn E. Kassel, PharmD, BCPS

Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Drake University College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences
Des Moines, IA

Diana R. Kerwin, MD, CPI

President, Kerwin Medical Center
Chief, Geriatric Medicine, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital
Dallas, TX

Alka Khera, MD

Assistant Professor
UT Southwestern Neurology
Dallas, TX

Chi-Ying (Roy) Lin, MD, MPH, FAAN

Director, CurePSP Center of Care for PSP, CBD, and MSA
Assistant Professor of Neurology
Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease Centers
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, TX

Catherine A. Madison, MD

Founding Director Ray Dolby Brain Health Center
San Francisco, CA

Scott McGinnis, MD

Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School
Center for Alzheimer Research and Treatment
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Frontotemporal Disorders Unit
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, MA

Mary Norman, MD

Geriatrician
Cedars-Sinai Medical Group
Los Angeles, CA

Kristin S. Meyer, PharmD, BCGP, FASCP

Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Drake University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Des Moines, IA

Charles Montano, MD

Owner, Principal Investigator
CT Clinical Research
Cromwell, CT

Manisha Parulekar, MD, FACP, AGSF, CMD

Director, Division of Geriatrics
Co-director, Center for Memory Loss and Brain Health
Hackensack University Medical Center
Hackensack, NJ

Giulio Maria Pasinetti, MD, PhD

The Saunders Family Chair in Neurology, Professor in Neurology
Director, Mount Sinai Center in Advance Botanical Research in Molecular Integrative Neuroresilience
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, NY
Director, Basic and Biomedical Research and Training Program, Geriatric Research and Clinical Center
James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Bronx, NY

Anton P. Porsteinsson, MD

William B. and Sheila Konar Professor of Psychiatry, Neurology,
Neuroscience, and Medicine
Director, Alzheimer’s Disease Care, Research and Education
Program (AD CARE)
University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
Rochester, NY

William D. Rhoades, DO, FACP

Chief Medical Officer
Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital
Downers Grove, IL

Barry W. Rovner, MD

Professor, Departments of Psychiatry & Neurology
Sidney Kimmel Medical College
Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia, PA

Marwan Noel Sabbagh, MD, FAAN, FANA

Moreno Family Chair for Alzheimer’s Research
Vice Chairman for Research and Professor
Department of Neurology
Barrow Neurological Institute
Phoenix, AZ

Angela Sanford, MD, CMD

Associate Professor of Internal Medicine-Geriatrics
Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Ballwin, MO

Paul E. Schulz, MD

Rick McCord Professor of Neurology
Umphrey Family Professor of Neurodegenerative Disorders
Director, Memory Disorders and Dementia Clinic
UTHealth Houston
Houston, TX

Neil Skolnik, MD

Professor of Family and Community Medicine
Sidney Kimmel Medical College
Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia, PA

Sandra Swantek, MD

Director, Section of Geriatric Psychiatry
RUSH University Medical Center
Chicago, IL

R. Scott Turner, PhD, MD

Professor of Neurology
Director of the Memory Disorders Program
Georgetown University
Washington, DC

Chuck Vega, MD, FAAFP

Health Sciences Clinical Professor
UC Irvine Department of Family Medicine
Director, UCI Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community
University of California Irvine
Irvine, CA

Geoffrey C. Wall, PharmD, FCCP, BCPS

John R. Ellis Distinguished Chair of Pharmacy Practice
Professor of Clinical Sciences
Director, Drake Drug Information Center
Drake University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Internal Medicine Clinical Pharmacist
Iowa Methodist Medical Center
Des Moines, IA

David A. Wolk, MD, FAAN

Professor of Neurology
Director, Penn Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA

  • Clinicians

The Burden of AD

Diagnosis and Assessing AD

Treating and Managing Alzheimer's

AD Rapid Referral

Clinical Exchange

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  • Caregivers & Patients

What is Alzheimer's?

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Resources and Alzheimer’s Network

FAQ's