alzheimers screening

[pdrdav]

concerned male. im 37 and noticing a decline in my short term memory. given that my grandfather on my father's side had alzheimers, im wondering if i am predisposed. does anyone know of the latest in screening for alzheimers? can a test reveal is one has alzhemiers or is just predisposed? what is the test? is it very expensive?



[This message has been edited by moderator1 (edited 04-04-2002).]

[LynFromCO]

It's my best guess that you haven't received any replies to your questions BECAUSE there is no such definitive testing for Alzheimer's as yet, that I know of. They diagnose it through elimination of other possibilities. (If I'm incorrect, someone please let us know here.) But, for what it's worth, I certainly know your concern. My brother and I probably stand a high chance of becoming Alzheimer's patients ourselves, as we have recently had our mother diagnosed with it. . . .and we are pretty sure that 2 grandparents had it and that our father may have had it, as well. You could say that Alzheimer's Disease has us ear-marked already. We have two double-cousins who are in the same boat. As a mom, I worry for my children, as well. Let me/us know how you're doing and if you find any information that might enlighten us. Take care; you're not alone.

[auntjudyg]

I'm not familiar with your specific situation, but I don't know many people approaching 40 who do not complain that their memory is not what it used to be. But, I know what you mean, recently my mother was assessed as having "Alheimer tendencies".

[acitigal]

Although there is no definitive test to determine if you have Alzheimer's there is a blood test that can determine if you a predisposition. We all possess a gene called APOE. It is present in different forms in different people. There are three forms of the gene: APOE @2, APOE@3, and APOE@4. Individuals who have one or two copies of the APOE@4 form have an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's. It is not a death sentenence if you have the gene, but it does show a predisposition,
I had the test done through Cornell Memory Disorders Program, in NYC. I was taking part in a clinical study conducted on children of Alzheimer's victims. Of course anyone who has relatives with Alzheimers, knows they probably have a predisposition, even without a test, but sometimes you can rule out if you have the gene.
There is also a memory test you can ask your doctor to administer. It measures your ability to remain facts. It consists of a series of verbal and pictoral memory cues. Part of the test is to subtract 8 from a 100 and contiue subtracting down to zero. The better your memory, the higher the score. Over a series of years, you can determine how your memory is holding up. My mother took it every year until recently when she had very low retention.
You might ask your doctor about if you can take it if you're really concerned.

Sincerely


[This message has been edited by moderator1 (edited 04-04-2002).]

[gizmolove]

Unfortunately, LynFromCo is right, there is no test, just the evaluation and the elimination of other things. By ruling out things like a chemical imbalance and reactions to medications and other deseases, and with certain memory retention tests and by x-rays and brain scans to rule out tumors and the like; what is left and the behavior and memory abilities; these are some of the evaluation tools for AD. Once all other things have been ruled out the Mental Health Care Professional will determine if the situation is AD or some other form of dementia; or just plain stress or some other mental illness altogether. I wish that there were a magic test to see if you have it or will get it, but as for now, there isn't. I also wish that you could use something like radiation or pop a pill or something to cure it, but, again; as for now, there is no CURE either. I don't know how much the evaluation is, but most good ones (cat scan, MRI, x-ray's) are done in hospital, therefore a lot more expensive than just an office call at the Dr.'s office. Also, you need a full staff for consult, to double check and make sure; which means, MD; Phyciatrac Specilist and Nuro Dept too; and that's not cheap.!! Most patients are diagnosed because of hospitalization due to behavioral breakdowns; which would denote the Mid-later stage of AD. (And those stages could be as long; or as far away as 10 to 20 years.)
If you are truly concerned or if you just want to start the record for future reference and if you have a doctor that you have been with for a while and intend to stay with, then it would be to your advantage to make your Doctor aware of your concerns right now. A simple office test could be helpful to see if your memory is impaired, or to make a history to reference back to now-in the future to see if your memory is going downhill. At any rate, your doctor will be aware of your concern for your family history, and can keep an eye on you; in case you have future problems. Also, if memory is your only symptom, then you are in the earliest stage (if any) and your Doctor would be the best judge of when it would be time for you to go for a complete evaluation in a hospital setting.

Good Luck,



------------------
Gizmo