Eye and Smell Tests for AD Diagnosis
Loss of odor identification and changes in the eye may be easy to measure markers which could act as low-cost tools for the detection of brain changes in the early stages of AD.
Two well-accepted hallmarks of cognitive decline and dementia are: 1) elevated brain beta-amyloid as shown in positron emission tomography (PET) and 2) reduced thickness of the brain’s cortex.
Odor identification tests were equal or better than measures of cortical thickness, but not as good as amyloid PET scans, in detecting cognitive decline and dementia. However, PET scans are more challenging and expensive to run than smell tests, so smell tests have that advantage as an AD screening tool. (*Sherry’s Note: A pioneer physician in PET scans is Dr. Daniel Amen, with clinics in several states, www.amenclinics.com )
Thinning of retinal nerve layers in the eye may be associated with AD, so retinal imaging has potential as a screening test. In addition, amyloid deposits have been found in the retinas of AD sufferers, so retinal amyloid could be used as another marker of AD.
These are examples of new diagnostic tools that could be used in the future.
More challenging jobs working with people can be protective
Researchers from the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer’s Prevention (WRAP) found that people with more complex jobs, especially those who work with people, were more resistant to AD than those with less challenging jobs. “Interestingly, this finding seemed to be driven by complexity of work with people – but not data or things – suggesting that social interaction in the workplace could play an important role in boosting cognitive reserve.” Elizabeth Boots http://www.med.wisc.edu/news-events/complex-work-with-people-protects-against-alzheimers-disease/48933
Non-Pharmacologic Therapies: an alternative to anti-psychotics
The "Halting Anti-psychotic use in Long Term care" (HALT) Project led to a 75 percent reduction in the use of anti-psychotic medications in people with dementia. The project’s purpose was to manage patient care with person-centered therapy, rather than using medication. At the end of the study, 121 of 132 subjects did not use anti-psychotics, and the rest were medication-free for 6 months.
Early treatment can reduce costs and mortality
A presentation at AAIC revealed that there is an economic benefit to ensuring that AD sufferers receive the current standard of care for AD medications. Doing so led to lower heath costs and lower patient mortality rates.
Gender differences in AD
Of the roughly 5 million Americans with AD at age 65 or older, nearly two-thirds are
women. The reason for this disparity is unknown, but new research has theorized that men may not be accurately diagnosed or that women live longer and, therefore, have a larger diagnostic window. Hormone shifts, like menopause in women or androgen deprivation in men, were shown to be involved in the development of AD. In particular, women who experienced menopause before age 45 where at higher risk of developing AD. Interestingly, widowed or single men were shown to be at higher risk for AD than married men. Future research will focus on defining and understanding these gender differences.
information above provided by the AAIC
Loss of odor identification and changes in the eye may be easy to measure markers which could act as low-cost tools for the detection of brain changes in the early stages of AD.
Two well-accepted hallmarks of cognitive decline and dementia are: 1) elevated brain beta-amyloid as shown in positron emission tomography (PET) and 2) reduced thickness of the brain’s cortex.
Odor identification tests were equal or better than measures of cortical thickness, but not as good as amyloid PET scans, in detecting cognitive decline and dementia. However, PET scans are more challenging and expensive to run than smell tests, so smell tests have that advantage as an AD screening tool. (*Sherry’s Note: A pioneer physician in PET scans is Dr. Daniel Amen, with clinics in several states, www.amenclinics.com )
Thinning of retinal nerve layers in the eye may be associated with AD, so retinal imaging has potential as a screening test. In addition, amyloid deposits have been found in the retinas of AD sufferers, so retinal amyloid could be used as another marker of AD.
These are examples of new diagnostic tools that could be used in the future.
More challenging jobs working with people can be protective
Researchers from the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer’s Prevention (WRAP) found that people with more complex jobs, especially those who work with people, were more resistant to AD than those with less challenging jobs. “Interestingly, this finding seemed to be driven by complexity of work with people – but not data or things – suggesting that social interaction in the workplace could play an important role in boosting cognitive reserve.” Elizabeth Boots http://www.med.wisc.edu/news-events/complex-work-with-people-protects-against-alzheimers-disease/48933
Non-Pharmacologic Therapies: an alternative to anti-psychotics
The "Halting Anti-psychotic use in Long Term care" (HALT) Project led to a 75 percent reduction in the use of anti-psychotic medications in people with dementia. The project’s purpose was to manage patient care with person-centered therapy, rather than using medication. At the end of the study, 121 of 132 subjects did not use anti-psychotics, and the rest were medication-free for 6 months.
Early treatment can reduce costs and mortality
A presentation at AAIC revealed that there is an economic benefit to ensuring that AD sufferers receive the current standard of care for AD medications. Doing so led to lower heath costs and lower patient mortality rates.
Gender differences in AD
Of the roughly 5 million Americans with AD at age 65 or older, nearly two-thirds are
women. The reason for this disparity is unknown, but new research has theorized that men may not be accurately diagnosed or that women live longer and, therefore, have a larger diagnostic window. Hormone shifts, like menopause in women or androgen deprivation in men, were shown to be involved in the development of AD. In particular, women who experienced menopause before age 45 where at higher risk of developing AD. Interestingly, widowed or single men were shown to be at higher risk for AD than married men. Future research will focus on defining and understanding these gender differences.
information above provided by the AAIC
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