Significant Changes to Guidelines for Alzheimer's Disease

Approximately 5.2 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, wherein almost 5 million of them are more than 65 years old. Every 66 seconds someone develops this condition, making it the third leading cause of death among older adults. Alzheimer's disease is fatal and according to reports, there’s nothing that can cure this disease.

Apart from the statistics and facts, detecting Alzheimer's isn’t as easy as it seems. It is not just about the way one's mind, memory, or thoughts change, which are routinely recognized as symptoms by many. This is why most cases often go either unclassified or undiagnosed.

The medical provider’s clinical judgement determines the guidelines for detecting Alzheimer’s disease. In a nutshell, the findings are based on a family member, friend or a spouse. Also based on the data obtained from clinical assessment, the findings are based on. This includes brain scan, neurological tests, blood tests and cognitive examination. But more often these disorders pose a clinical challenge. Since most particularly at the early stage, the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s or dementia can be more consistent with other cognitive syndrome. This not only confirms the disorder but also adds to the confusion.

Three unique phases have been suggested in the new criteria for Alzheimer’s disease. This includes preclinical, mild cognitive impairment and dementia. The most important thing is that the multi step staging system cannot be overemphasized. When the first staging system for this condition is integrated with the clinical symptoms and through biomarkers along with the signal of brain alterations, it was the first moment. Likewise from the mounting proof of biomarker data, the suggested staging derived recommended that prior to the development of symptoms the disease starts. Brain changes can be determined by the emerging technology. This can make a way for the development of symptoms.

Measurable alterations in cerebrospinal fluid, blood biomarkers and brain are experienced in those individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. The earliest possible sign of the condition can be shown.  However symptoms may not have been formed. On the patient’s thinking, the pre clinical phase reflects. 20 years prior to the symptoms could actually show up, the Alzheimer’s disease related alterations could happen. While this criteria occurs, by most doctors routinely it is not been utilized.  In the field of biomarkers, before this term is utilized by the doctors and specialists, more research needs to be done. A certain diagnosis of the preclinical condition among the patients could be rendered when this happens.

On the other hand, more attention was drawn of the medical community due to mild cognitive impairment caused by Alzheimer’s disease. Moreover most professionals utilize this technology. Tolerable but slight changes happen in people with MCI especially the way they think.  By the affected individual such as colleagues, close friends and so on these changes can be noticed right away. But to control the capability to perform daily activities is not affected since the symptoms are not severe.

In the third place of disease hierarchy dementia caused by Alzheimer’s disease is situated. Many changes the individual experiences. The ability to live a normal life is affected by the individual. Often times it is thought that the brain changes in Alzheimer’s disease is causing these changes.  Regarding on the latest risk factors of the said disease a lot of investigations needs to be done. Also the way the biomarkers help in building the risk of dementia actually needs to be discerned. Also there needs to be ways to identify how gender is affected differently by risk factors and into clinical practice infer these findings. An active advocate for these objectives is organizations such as the Society for Women’s Heath Research’s interdisciplinary Network on Alzheimer’s disease. Their objective is to educate, give guidance for policy, research and clinical trials.