Over five million Americans are living with Alzheimer\u2019s disease and this number continues to grow.\u00a0 Alzheimer\u2019s disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. \u00a0It is difficult to overstate the devastating impact Alzheimer\u2019s disease and related dementias have on patients and their families.\u00a0 One way to mitigate this impact is to empower those affected to make informed decisions about managing their health and their lives.<\/p>\n
Patients and their loved ones cannot make informed decisions without being educated.\u00a0 However, in a survey of caregivers completed by the Alzheimer\u2019s Foundation of America, 81% of respondents reported that the individuals they care for experienced symptoms of Alzheimer\u2019s for a year or more before being diagnosed.\u00a0 Remember that the earlier these problems are diagnosed the more control you have about how you choose to address them.<\/p>\n
Memory screenings can be an important first step in identifying whether someone has a memory problem.\u00a0 Memory screenings are short, simple, and safe.\u00a0 They can be performed in a variety of settings, including physician\u2019s offices, pharmacies, and senior centers.\u00a0 Many community organizations have set up sites to make confidential memory screenings available to the public for free.\u00a0 Screenings generally take between 5 and 10 minutes.\u00a0 They involve questions designed to assess memory function, language, and thinking ability.\u00a0 If a family member is reluctant to go for a full cognitive assessment, a memory screening can seem less daunting and provide an opening to begin discussing issues of memory loss and dementia.\u00a0 However, memory screenings do not diagnose any particular illness.\u00a0 If a memory screening indicates a problem, you will need to see a doctor for a more complete cognitive examination.<\/p>\n
Anyone who has significant concerns about memory loss should see a doctor whose practice focuses on dealing with memory impairment and get a full cognitive assessment.\u00a0 The doctors who perform full cognitive assessments are generally going to be geriatric psychiatrists, neuropsychologists, and some neurologists. \u00a0Even if you do not have concerns about memory loss right now, you may still want to see a doctor to establish a baseline for the future.\u00a0 This can be especially helpful for those who are at risk due to a family history of Alzheimer\u2019s or another type of dementia.\u00a0 In addition, a normal result from a cognitive evaluation can provide peace of mind for individuals worried that their \u201csenior moments\u201d of forgetfulness are indicative of a more serious problem.<\/p>\n
Many people are reluctant to go for a memory screening or cognitive evaluation.\u00a0 This may be due to the stigma of Alzheimer\u2019s disease, denial, or fear of what such a test might show.\u00a0 However, identifying a memory problem and its underlying cause can lead to many potential benefits.\u00a0 Memory problems can be caused by a variety of medical conditions.\u00a0 Some memory problems, such as those caused by vitamin deficiencies, can be readily treated.\u00a0 Even if a memory problem is caused by Alzheimer\u2019s disease, early diagnosis can improve quality of life by giving patients and their families an opportunity to learn more about the disease, receive treatment that might slow the progress of the disease, identify available support services, and address long-term care and estate planning issues while there is still time for patients to communicate their wishes and have a say in their care.<\/p>\n
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer\u2019s disease or another form of dementia, Weatherby & Associates, PC can help you plan ahead to maximize quality of life now and moving forward.\u00a0 Call us at 888-822-8778 for more information.<\/p>\n
https:\/\/weatherby-associates.com\/importance-early-diagnosis-planning-dementia<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Over five million Americans are living with Alzheimer\u2019s disease and this number continues to grow.\u00a0 Alzheimer\u2019s disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. \u00a0It is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2706","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n