Alzheimer’s disease is the world’s most common form of dementia, affecting more than five million Americans over the age of 65, and approximately 200,000 Americans under 65 who are diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. It is characterized by problems with memory, thinking, and behavior. If you or someone you care for has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, it’s important to learn about the disease and it’s different stages so that you can get the right treatment and support.
If an individual suspects that they have Alzheimer’s disease, getting diagnosed in a timely manner is important so that other potential conditions or causes can be ruled out and important decisions about treatment, support and care can be made. Diagnosis is typically performed by a doctor’s examination, where the patient undergoes various tests to assess the signs and symptoms that they are exhibiting.
When evaluating someone for Alzheimer’s disease, the doctor will conduct a thorough evaluation of the individual's medical history, symptoms, cognitive abilities, and functional abilities. This may involve tests to assess a person's memory, thinking skills, and behavior, as well as conversations with friends or family members who can provide additional information about the individual's symptoms. Once this is complete, additional tests may be necessary to help rule out other causes of memory loss or cognitive impairment.
Alzheimer’s disease is usually diagnosed by a primary care provider, a neurologist (a doctor specializing in conditions of the brain), or a geriatrician (a doctor specializing in conditions affecting older adults). The doctor will evaluate a patient’s symptoms, medical history, and current medications.
After the initial tests and examination, the doctor may request additional laboratory tests, detailed memory testing, or brain imaging tests. Together, this information can help to rule out other conditions and result in an accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.
Because Alzheimer’s disease is complex, with lots of different (and often unknown) causes, there isn’t one drug or treatment that works for everyone affected by the disease. However, scientists have made a lot of progress in recent years, and there are now several treatments available that can help patients manage their Alzheimer’s symptoms. Most of the treatments currently available are most effective for patients with mild or moderate-stage Alzheimer’s disease.
One type of drug that has been shown to be effective in treating the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease is “cholinesterase inhibitors”, including galantamine, rivastigmine, and donepezil. It’s important to understand that these drugs can’t reverse the effects of Alzheimer’s disease, or repair the parts of the brain that become damaged by the disease. However, they can reduce some of the symptoms relating to memory loss, thinking, language, and judgement.
While cholinesterase inhibitors can improve the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, they can’t prevent the disease from progressing. However, there is a new drug that has been shown to do that - Aducanumab. This drug was only recently approved by the FDA in 2021, and is the first drug that has been shown to reduce the size of brain lesions associated with Alzheimer’s disease. However, it is important to note that Aducanumab is not a cure for Alzheimer’s and it does not work for everyone. It can also cause side effects, such as headaches and swelling in the brain, which can be severe in some cases. Patients should talk to their doctor about the potential benefits and risks of Aducanumab before starting treatment.
Unfortunately, there isn’t a cure for Alzheimer’s disease at this stage. The good news is that many major pharmaceutical companies in the US are heavily investing in Alzheimer’s research, and there are currently more than 400 active clinical trials relating to Alzheimer’s research and different potential drugs and therapies.
With funding for Alzheimer’s disease research at an all-time high, patients and caregivers alike can be hopeful for more diagnostic tools, treatment options, and a better understanding of Alzheimer’s disease in the coming years.
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List the names of all the doctors, hospitals, and other facilities your loved one visits regularly, along with those they have visited in the past. Try to go back as far as you can, striving for at least the last 5-10 years, but do your best. Even if you can’t remember them all, having a strong baseline can help you quickly identify gaps in records.
It is important to make sure that you are fully empowered to make decisions on behalf of your loved one with Alzheimer’s. Your relationship status with the patient may not be enough to legally give you access to your loved one's medical information. It is a good idea to talk to an expert about securing special legal status, such as Power of Attorney (POA), a legal document that allows an individual to name someone as their decision maker should they no longer be able to make decisions on their own.
It’s important to have all of your loved one’s medical records together in one spot. This makes it much easier for you and your loved one’s physicians to accurately map the patient’s medical journey and more easily share information between doctors. Fortunately, tools exist to make record management and access simple. A free resource like PicnicHealth helps you collect and organize all of this information. PicnicHealth’s intuitive timeline allows you to pinpoint data across the medical history, eliminating your need for keeping heavy binders filled with paper records or keeping track of multiple software portal logins.
The better you understand your loved one's medical history, the better you can advocate on their behalf. Access and understanding of this information will help you to ask informed questions with physicians. Through regular communication backed by the data in the medical records, you can help your loved one’s care team develop a more successful care plan.
Learn more about PicnicHealth’s commitment to the Alzheimer’s community and the Alzheimer’s Association
Learn MoreIf your loved one is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, putting a support system together might not seem like priority #1. But it’s never too soon to build a network of people that you can turn to in times of need. Cultivate connections today with the people who can be there tomorrow, or whenever you might need a hand.
You may also want to connect with other Alzheimer’s caregivers through a support group, whether it meets in-person or online. In addition to the encouragement and empathy they provide, support groups can be a helpful source of tips, resources, and recommendations for navigating the world of Alzheimer’s.
If your loved one is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, putting a support system together might not seem like priority #1. But it’s never too soon to build a network of people that you can turn to in times of need. Cultivate connections today with the people who can be there tomorrow, or whenever you might need a hand.
You may also want to connect with other Alzheimer’s caregivers through a support group, whether it meets in-person or online. In addition to the encouragement and empathy they provide, support groups can be a helpful source of tips, resources, and recommendations for navigating the world of Alzheimer’s.
It isn’t always easy to look into the future with Alzheimer’s—but doing the legwork now will save you from stress later. If your loved one is in the early stages of illness, you can involve them in conversations about legal, financial, and long-term care planning decisions. Despite the difficulty of these topics, you’ll all feel empowered by facing them early, and you can move ahead with greater confidence.
It’s an exciting time for Alzheimer’s research, with new treatments in development and coming to market. Ask your loved one’s doctors about therapies they can try or clinical trials they can join. One easy way to participate in research is to sign up at PicnicHealth, which helps to advance Alzheimer’s science by sharing participants’ anonymous health data with some of the brightest minds in research.
It may seem self-centered to focus on self-care—but when you feel good, you can be a better caregiver. Whether it’s exercise, a mindfulness practice, a soak in the bath, or just time to rest when you need it, carve out those moments in the day when you can unwind, reset, and stay healthy mentally and physically. Think of it as building up your reserves of kindness, patience, and understanding—which can only benefit your loved one with Alzheimer’s. And don’t forget to keep a sense of humor along the way.
Easily manage all of your loved one's medical records and contribute to ongoing Alzheimer's research with PicnicHealth.
Learn More(from 13 patients with LC-FAOD)
38% Female
15 providers / patient
7.5 years of data / patient
(from 13 patients with LC-FAOD)
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