The Importance Of Diagnosing Alzheimer's Disease

First discovered in 1906 when, a German neurologist, Dr. Alois Alzheimer, noticed unusual changes in the brain tissue of a woman who passed away due to a mental illness. Alzheimer’s is a neurological disorder in which the progressive death of brain cells causes irreversible memory loss, dementia and abnormal behavior. Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia among older adults and is the sixth leading cause of death in the United states (About Alzheimer's Disease: Treatment). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated five million Americans aged 65 years and older had Alzheimer’s disease.
Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are similar in several aspects, but it is important to understand the differences between the two conditions. Dementia is a general term to describe a group of symptoms that obstructs the ability to think, remember and reason. Depending on the conditions of an individual, Alzheimer’s can fall under the dementia category. While Alzheimer’s is the most
Diagnosing Alzheimer’s requires a physician to carefully conduct a medical evaluation of medical history, neurological exam and other tests to rule out other dementia symptoms. Experts estimate a skilled physician can diagnose Alzheimer’s with more than 90 percent accuracy (Know). Although the disease cannot be treated or stopped, there are benefits for the person and their family with an early diagnosis. As it increases the changes of participating in clinical drug trial and time to develop a plan for care and support services. There are several FDA approved drugs to combat the symptoms of Alzheimer’s, however patients may respond better to one drug than another. Although the approved drugs may help maintain memory, thinking and speaking. Unfortunately, the approved drugs do not slow down or stop the progression of the