Cecily O'Connor
RedwoodAge.com
A lack of knowledge about Alzheimer's disease among boomers could stymie treatment for themselves and their loved ones.
More than 90 percent of adults age 55 and over were unable to identify the difference between early and late Alzheimer's symptoms, as well as those unrelated to the memory disorder, based on findings from a survey commissioned by the Alzheimer's Disease Screening Discussion Group, a consortium of Alzheimer's and senior health experts. Despite this confusion, 78 percent believed they could identify signs of the disease in themselves, or in friends and relatives.
Part of the problem is the disparity between intentions and actual behavior. Nearly 95 percent agreed they would encourage a loved one to seek early diagnosis upon suspecting Alzheimer's.
However, of the 34 percent who previously thought a loved one had the disease, only about one-quarter encouraged that person to take an Alzheimer's test, and less than 40 percent suggested initiating a conversation with his or her doctor.
| Normal Aging | Warning Signs |
| Forgetting names of people you rarely see | Forgetting names of people close to you |
| Briefly forgetting part of an experience | Forgetting a recent experience |
| Occasionally misplacing things | Unable to find important things |
| Mood changes due to an appropriate cause | Unpredictable mood changes |
| Changes in your interests | Decreased interest in outside activities |
What's Normal?
Alzheimer's, which is characterized by the progressive loss of cognitive
functioning and is incurable, is fast becoming one of the biggest
public health problems, facing millions of aging boomers.
More than 5 million people live with Alzheimer's today, and that figure is expected to more than triple by 2050. However, at the current rate, many boomers may not be diagnosed until the disease is in its later stages.
"Last year the Alzheimer's Disease Screening Discussion Group encouraged seniors to become more familiar with the first signs of Alzheimer's in order to facilitate earlier screening and diagnosis," said Dr. Richard Stefanacci, member of the screening group and founding executive director of the Geriatric Health Program, University of the Sciences, Philadelphia.
"This new survey shows us that close friends and relatives are not encouraging their loved ones to take action, and perhaps that's because they're not confident in their ability to identify Alzheimer's symptoms," he said.
In theory, family members of the person with Alzheimer's are most likely to notice the need for screening, but many admit they have a hard time discerning what symptoms are part of normal aging, versus those related to Alzheimer's. Moreover, nearly one-third were not aware of Alzheimer's medications currently available, and about 85 percent of those who are aware do not understand how treatment works.
Before the Disease Advances
There is no cure, so managing Alzheimer's usually involves medications to
control symptoms, in combination with various non-drug strategies designed to
ease the suffering of the person afflicted as well as his or her family and
caregiver, according to the Alzheimer's
Association. Both the survey and the screening group were sponsored by
pharmaceutical companies, Eisai and Pfizer, which make Alzheimer's drugs.
"Not only are there treatments that can slow the progression of symptoms, but an early diagnosis also gives the patient and their loved ones more time to adjust to the news and make important decisions together before the disease advances, impacting the patients' ability to interact and function," he said.
The group has information on its website, SeeTheSigns.com, to educate boomers about Alzheimer's signs and symptoms.
