YOUR spouse is likely to detect Alzheimer’s before your doctor does, according to a study.
Experts suggest that a husband or wife may notice changes in behavior more quickly than brain problems show up on exams or doctor visits.
The research involved 675 people and found that those whose spouse complained about their memory were more likely to develop brain damage.
They had a better chance that doctors would later find tangled clumps of a protein called tau, which is believed to kill brain cells in Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
Regular checkups showed that loved ones detected changes even in the “preclinical” phase, where doctors would have difficulty detecting a problem.
Study author Rebecca Amariglio, from Harvard Medical School in the US, said: “Our study found that initial suspicions of memory problems by participants and people who knew them well were linked to higher levels of tau tangles. in the brain.
“Understanding the early signs of Alzheimer’s disease is even more important now that new medications are becoming available.”
Almost a million Britons have dementia
The study, published in the journal Neurology, questioned participants with an average age of 72 and also partners or close family members.
They were asked whether the person’s memory was getting worse and doctors compared the responses to PET brain scans.
Dementia is the leading cause of death in Britain and around a million people suffer from the disease.
Two-thirds of cases are caused by Alzheimer’s disease, which scientists believe is caused by a buildup of toxic proteins in the brain for years or even decades before the patient becomes ill.
Changes in the brain begin long before symptoms are detected by a doctor
Dr Rebeca Amariglio
Dr. Amariglio added, “We now understand that changes in the brain due to Alzheimer’s disease begin long before patients experience symptoms detected by a doctor.
“There is growing evidence that individuals themselves or a close family member may notice changes in memory before a clinical measure detects evidence of cognitive impairment.”
What are the early symptoms of cognitive decline?
WE all notice a natural decline in memory and thinking as we age.
This will be more pronounced in some people, as they have memory and thinking problems that are mild but still noticeable.
This is described as mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Unlike those with dementia, people with MCI can still go about their daily lives.
Research suggests that two in 10 people over the age
of 65 have MCI, according to Alzheimer’s Research UK.
About one in 10 people who receive an MCI diagnosis will develop dementia.
Symptoms of MCI include:
Memory – Losing items or having problems
remembering recent conversations.
- Attention problems – difficulty concentrating,
for example, while watching a TV program or performing
job duties - Disorientation – confusion about time, date or location
- Thinking Skills – Problems with Planning or Completion
tasks, for example managing money or cooking a meal - Problems with communication and finding the right words
- Changes in mood and behavior – becoming irritable, anxious,
or feeling depressed
These symptoms can affect someone with MCI all the time
time, or they may come and go.
There are steps we can take to keep our brains as healthy as possible. These include:
- Do not smoke
- Do physical activity regularly
- Stay mentally and socially active
- Eat a healthy, balanced diet
- Limit the amount of alcohol we drink
- Checking your hearing regularly
- Maintain blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol
levels in check
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
