As a social worker in the field of older adults’ services and dementia care, I have often talked to people who are concerned about their memory. One of the most common responses I get from people when I encourage them to talk to their doctor about their memory is that they do not see the point.
People will share with me that if they or their loved one receives a diagnosis of dementia it will only make them stressed and depressed. There has been a thought that without a cure or treatment available, there is no point in getting a diagnosis. A diagnosis only signifies fear and worry and may come with loss of independence.
I have always tried to share what I see as the value of early diagnosis. A diagnosis is not only a label, but a tool to empower people to plan ahead and take steps for their overall health.
I explain that first it is important to rule out any other factors that may affect memory, such as infections, medication interactions, or vitamin deficiencies. There may be a cause that can be remedied.
If there is an early diagnosis it allows time for the person to be a participant in their own care planning. They can still share their wishes, make sure their legal estate planning documents are in place, and talk with loved ones about what they want and who they want to step in when needed.
A diagnosis can also clarify what is happening. Rather than just worrying about a diagnosis, or wondering what might be wrong with you, it can provide context for changes you may be experiencing.
We recently held a seminar at Senior Concerns that provided insight into another reason that early diagnosis is so important. The seminar was on “Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer’s Disease: Advances in Diagnosis and Treatment.” It was presented by Dr. Lanyard Dial, Medical Director of Livingston Visiting Nurse Association.
He talked about new advances in diagnosis including scans available and new blood tests that can be used in the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s. He explained that they are not appropriate for every person but may be suitable based on the presence of other clinical symptoms.
There have been some medications available to help with slowing down the progression of Alzheimer’s, but they do not stop or change the process. What is new now are treatment options that actually modify the disease process. This includes IV medications that work to attack the amyloids in the brain that are a key marker of Alzheimer’s Disease.
However, these new interventions are only useful and available to people with mild cognitive impairment or early Alzheimer’s Disease. They also are not indicated for other types of dementia besides Alzheimer’s.
You can view his seminar on the Senior Concerns website at: https://www.seniorconcerns.org/programs/seminars/
As we learn more about these treatments there may be more options that become available. They are not without risk and side effects, but they do offer some hope for the future of this disease.
The key is that none of these treatments are shown to reverse the process and therefore are only effective if the disease process is in the early stages.
If you or a loved one has questions about these options, find a trusted neurologist to review the options with you.
Early diagnosis may become a tool to open doors to new options or at least to new conversations. It allows you and your loved ones to gain information to use for strategic planning for care and support.
Martha Shapiro can be reached at Senior Concerns at 805-497-0189 or by email at mshapiro@seniorconcerns.org.
