An Alzheimer’s diagnosis can be scary — there’s currently no cure for the progressive disease that will eventually cause a person to lose his or her independence.
But fearing a diagnosis isn’t a reason to delay seeing a doctor if you are showing signs of Alzheimer’s disease. Unfortunately, new research shows that the fear of a stigma associated with Alzheimer’s could keep people from being diagnosed early — and delay treatment that could help them maintain a higher quality of life.
In the study, researchers analyzed reactions to a person being diagnosed with middle-stage Alzheimer’s. More than half of the participants thought the person would be discriminated against by employers and excluded from making medical decisions.
“It’s important to understand Alzheimer’s disease and fight any stigma,” said Alexandra Brock, a certified registered nurse practitioner at Geisinger Western Region. “Stigma could prevent people from being diagnosed early and also delay treatments that could actually help people live independently longer.”
The number of people with Alzheimer’s will continue to increase as the number of older adults increases. It’s estimated that 5.4 million people currently suffer from Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s causes memory and cognitive function problems. It’s a progressive disease: Someone with mild Alzheimer’s disease may misplace car keys and forget something he or she just read, while someone with severe Alzheimer’s will eventually lose the ability to walk, communicate and swallow. It’s currently the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.
“There’s currently no cure for Alzheimer’s, but there are benefits to getting diagnosed early,” said Brock. “Your doctor may prescribe medications to help manage memory and thinking problems and slow the disease’s progression.”
Early Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis could give a person a better chance at treatment options currently available, and more of an opportunity to take part in clinical trials.
In addition, the earlier a person is diagnosed, the better chance that person has to take part in making medical decisions, as well as important decisions about his or her care, living, finances and legal matters.
Confirming an Alzheimer’s diagnosis may also allay concerns about memory and cognitive issues you may have been experiencing. Understanding the diagnosis and being able to educate yourself and your family and friends about what to expect can make this change easier.
There isn’t one single test that shows a person has Alzheimer’s disease. Instead, a diagnosis is made after a medical assessment.
During the assessment, your doctor may review your medical history, assess your mental health and conduct a physical exam. You also may have a brain scan and have blood taken to rule out other diseases or disorders that could cause similar symptoms to Alzheimer’s.
Signs of Alzheimer’s disease include:
■ Memory problems that disrupt your daily life
■ Confusion about where you are or what day it is
■ Difficulty finishing tasks at home, or those that were previously easy
■ Trouble solving problems, such as reviewing and paying monthly bills
■ Trouble finding the right words during conversation
■ Problems with misplacing things or getting lost
■ Changes in mood
■ Withdrawal from hobbies or social situations
“It’s important to remember that just having some memory loss doesn’t mean you have dementia or Alzheimer’s disease,” said Brock. “However, if you are concerned about your memory problems, you should see your doctor.”
