Dementia — Beyond Alzheimer's Disease

By Madeline Vann, MPH | Medically reviewed by Lindsey Marcellin, MD, MPH 

Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia, but it's not the only one. From Parkinson's disease to stroke, find out which other conditions are associated with dementia.

Alzheimer’s disease causes up to 75 percent of dementia cases — but even though the two conditions are often associated, dementia is not always related to Alzheimer’s disease.

“Dementia is just a fancy word for memory loss,” says Raj C. Shah, MD, medical director of the Rush Memory Center at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. “It doesn’t tell you what the cause is.” In addition to memory loss, dementia also causes difficulty with thinking, reasoning, and decision making.

A dementia diagnosis is based on the presence of certain symptoms, which are then categorized to determine the stage of dementia and the appropriate dementia treatment. There is no cure for dementia, which is by definition a fatal, progressive disease, meaning dementia symptoms will only get worse over time. Dementia treatment, however, can help slow the progression of symptoms in some cases.

 

Possible Causes of Dementia

If someone is diagnosed with dementia, the possible causes include:

• Alzheimer’s disease
• Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a rare brain disorder sometimes referred to as mad cow disease that kills most patients within a year
• Frontotemporal dementia, a condition in which parts of the brain shrink, affecting either behavior or speech
• Strokes, in which cause brain cells die because their oxygen supply has been cut off or from bleeding in the brain, sometimes resulting in a condition called vascular dementia
• Traumatic brain injury
• Lewy body dementia, a common type in which Lewy bodies, a type of protein, build up in the brain, causing cognitive and other types of problems
• Parkinson’s disease, which occurs when nerve cells in the brain lose the ability to make a chemical transmitter called dopamine, causing difficulties with movement, as well as dementia

The Worst Form of Dementia? Because Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause and the most often studied, people may believe it to be the “worst” form of dementia.

“In general, for anybody with dementia, it’s just horrible — for the person and the caregivers,” says Dr. Shah. He explains that there has been limited research on which types of dementia consistently progress faster or more severely, so there is no objective standard of what might be the worst type of dementia. Whichever one you are dealing with is likely to feel like the worst.

 

How Dementia Is Treated

Even if Alzheimer’s disease is not the cause of the dementia, treatment is likely to be the same.

“We use the same treatment mechanisms for everybody,” says Shah. “Ten percent is medications; 90 percent is education and community support.”

The medications that are available to help control dementia symptoms have primarily been tested in Alzheimer’s disease patients and are generally approved for use in Alzheimer’s disease — which means that if they are used for a patient with vascular dementia or Parkinson’s disease, that is technically an “off-label” use.

This may not change the outcome of treatment, but Shah emphasizes that it is important for doctors, patients, and their families to be clear about off-label uses of dementia medications.

Most dementia treatment involves developing an individualized care plan, says Shah. That means creating a web of care with the patient in the middle, surrounded by family and caregivers, and building a network of support that involves the medical team, as well as community and social services.

However, if your form of dementia is caused by something other than Alzheimer’s, you may have additional treatments that are specific to your underlying condition.

Even if you do have Alzheimer’s, your doctor may want to prevent complicating factors that could add to your dementia, such as strokes, so you could also be started on treatments that are new to you, such as blood pressure and cholesterol medication.

 

Are All Dementias Made Equal?

Regardless of the cause of dementia, you can expect the disease to progress through the same stages, as defined by worsening symptoms, although at different speeds. If you are concerned that a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease or frontotemporal dementia means you will one day have Alzheimer’s, know that one cause of dementia does not automatically become another type of dementia.

Understanding the differences among the different causes of dementia — and what they mean for dementia treatment and quality of life — is challenging. Research and consultation with your medical team are an important part of coming to grips with what this news means for your health and your family.

Understanding the Stages and Symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease

By Dennis Thompson Jr. | Medically reviewed by Pat F. Bass III, MD, MS, MPH
 

Learn about the symptoms of Alzheimer's, and how they change as the disease progresses through three distinctive stages.

 

 

No one experiences Alzheimer's disease in exactly the same way. As memory loss occurs, it affects cognition (the process of knowing and thinking), coordination, personality, and standard of living very differently from person to person. However, researchers have identified some patterns in the way the disease progresses, allowing doctors to group Alzheimer's symptoms into three specific stages. This classification can help people to better understand how symptoms might unfold after an Alzheimer's diagnosis and can assist families in making plans for the future.
It's important to keep in mind, though, that while Alzheimer's symptoms have been clustered into stages, there's no way to tell how long any one stage or symptom will last or how quickly others will progress. People with Alzheimer’s die on average about four to six years after their diagnosis, but the disease can also take its relentless toll for as long as 20 years before death occurs.
Alzheimer's Symptoms: Early Warning Signs
You've forgotten where you've placed your keys. Or you can't remember the name of an actress in a particular movie. Or maybe you are relying more and more on notes to remind yourself you need to do important tasks. Are you suffering from Alzheimer's?
In most cases, the answer is probably not. Most of us experience some “normal” loss of memory, those annoying “senior moments,” as we age. Experts say that misplacing your keys isn’t the issue; forgetting what the keys are used for, however, can be. With this in mind, if you or a loved one is having memory problems that seem to be getting worse more rapidly or happening much more frequently than before, it might be time to pay your doctor a visit.

The following are some early warning signs of Alzheimer's, along with caveats you should keep in mind:

• Forgetfulness. People with early Alzheimer's often find themselves regularly forgetting important information they've just recently learned. On the other hand, there’s probably no need to worry about occasional lapses, such as misplacing your wallet or forgetting names — these types of memory lapses are normal and happen to most people as they get older.

Difficulty completing tasks. People with early Alzheimer's might not be able to remember the steps needed to cook a meal, balance a checkbook, or use a computer program. However, forgetting what you were just going to say or why you went into a particular room isn't unusual when it happens every now and then.

Disorientation. If you've found yourself getting lost in your neighborhood, or ever feel as if you suddenly don't know how to get home because you've forgotten where you are and how you got there, these are signs that could indicate the presence of Alzheimer's. But remember, both of these issues are much different than simply forgetting where you were headed, which can happen to anyone from time to time.

Misplacing objects. Putting objects in strange places — like your car keys in the microwave, or your hair dryer in the washing machine — can be a sign of early Alzheimer's disease. Don't worry if you or your loved one temporarily misplaces keys or a purse, though.

Lapses in judgment. If you notice that you or your loved one has started exhibiting some strange behaviors — like putting on several heavy layers of clothing on a warm day, wearing the same clothes day after day, or giving lots of money away to telemarketers or scam artists, there's reason to suspect Alzheimer's might be present.

Stages of Alzheimer's Symptoms

Once you've been diagnosed with Alzheimer's, researchers say you can expect three phases of symptoms, generally classified as mild, moderate, and severe.

Stage I (Mild) can last two to four years. There will be minor memory loss, as well as mood swings and personality changes. However, relative independence can be maintained. Stage I symptoms can include:

• Getting lost easily
• Difficulty handling money and/or paying bills
• Repeating questions or bits of conversation out of context
• Taking longer to finish routine tasks
• Exercising poor judgment
• Losing or misplacing items

Stage II (Moderate) Alzheimer's causes the brain to begin experiencing significant neural damage. Simple tasks can still be accomplished, but people in stage II will struggle with language, reason, sensory perception, and cognition. Stage II Alzheimer's tends to be the longest, lasting anywhere from two to 10 years. Symptoms may include:

• Trouble completing tasks with multiple steps, such as getting dressed or cooking a meal.
• Increased memory loss, where both recent events as well as personal history are no longer remembered
• Confusion as past memories blend with the present
• Difficulty recognizing familiar people or family
• Loss of ability to read and write
• Impulsive behavior and tendencies to wander

Stage III (Severe) lasts one to three years. People with stage III Alzheimer's generally lose all independence and most of their mental ability. At this stage, you will require constant care. Many people remain homebound or in bed nearly all day. Symptoms can include:

• Inability to recognize anyone, including yourself
• Loss of communication, relying instead on grunts or moans
• Increased vulnerability to other diseases, such as skin or respiratory infections
• Loss of control over bodily functions, such as trouble swallowing or lack of bowel and bladder control
• Further decrease in memory, which becomes nearly nonexistent.

Alzheimer's Disease: Beyond Staging

Some researchers believe that the stages of Alzheimer's now recognized by medical professionals should be modified to reflect the complex nature of the disease, says Malaz Boustani, MD, assistant professor of medicine at the Indiana University School of Medicine and a center scientist with the Indiana University Center for Aging Research. "That kind of staging is decades-old," Dr. Boustani says. "These days, it should be clear that Alzheimer's is more complicated."

Along with ranking cognition as mild, moderate, or severe, Boustani and other doctors think the disease could also be staged by other factors, including:

• Ability to function, ranging from "high level," in which the person can still managing finances and driving, down to "low level," in which they need help with very simple tasks, such as eating and dressing.
• Behavioral and psychological symptoms, such as wandering and pacing, which are more prevalent in later stages of the disease.
• Caregiver burden, taking into account how much a caregiver needs to contribute to the person’s wellbeing and how much they are still able to manage on their own. Because caregivers play such an integral role in the lives of people with Alzheimer's, Boustani says some medical professionals have "started changing the definition of the patient and expanded it to include their caregiver."

If you suspect that you or your loved one might be exhibiting one or more of the symptoms mentioned in these stages, don't hesitate to contact your doctor. While there is no cure for Alzheimer's disease, getting an early diagnosis can help you plan for the future accordingly and a number of treatments are available to help ease problematic Alzheimer's symptoms.

Alzheimer's: A Woman's Disease?

By Dennis Thompson Jr. | Medically reviewed by Pat F. Bass III, MD, MS, MPH

Women are more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia than men — but why?

There are many theories as to what may cause Alzheimer's disease but here’s one thing researchers know for sure: Women are diagnosed with various forms of dementia, including Alzheimer's, at greater rates than men. In fact, the Alzheimer’s Association’s 2011 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report shows that 3.4 million of the 5.4 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s are female.

Why the Gender Discrepancy?

The current state of research seems to favor the simplest explanation for this phenomenon: Women just live longer. According to Malaz Boustani, MD, assistant professor of medicine at the Indiana University School of Medicine and a center scientist with the Indiana University Center for Aging Research, "Alzheimer's disease depends so much on time. Men tend to die earlier, and therefore they have less prevalence of Alzheimer's. There is a mortality difference."

On average, a girl born in 2005 is expected to live to age 80, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A boy born that same year is expected to live to age 75. According to current consensus, that's why more women tend to develop Alzheimer's disease. They are simply more vulnerable to the greatest risk factor associated with Alzheimer's: advancing age.

Alzheimer's Symptoms in Men Vs. Women

Alzheimer's also appears to affect men and women differently. Here are some ways in which the condition can present itself in men versus women:

• Men with Alzheimer's disease tend to develop more aggression — physical, verbal, and sexual — than women do as the disease progresses. They also tend to wander and perform socially inappropriate actions more frequently than women diagnosed with Alzheimer's.
• Women with Alzheimer's disease tend to become more reclusive and emotionally unstable. They hoard items more often than men do, refuse help more often, and exhibit laughter or crying at inappropriate moments. They also seem more vulnerable to depression and to suffering from delusions.

Alzheimer's Risk: Other Roles Gender Might Play

New studies have found that hormonal differences might also play a role in increasing the risk of Alzheimer's in women. Beyond that, there appear to be gender differences in which risk factors for Alzheimer's affect men and women. Gender also appears to affect how Alzheimer's develops, since men and women exhibit different symptoms of dementia.

Gender is a factor in Alzheimer's disease for "a combination of reasons," says Allen Levey, MD, chair of neurology at Emory University School of Medicine and director of the Emory Center for Neurodegenerative Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease Center. "There are more women who are living longer. There may also be an increased risk for women beyond that. There has been a lot of research pointing toward the effects of female hormones, like estrogen, on dementia."

One study, for instance, has found that hormone replacement therapy can increase a person's risk of developing dementia. Another study found that high or low levels of a thyroid hormone called thyrotropin may be associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease in women.

Gender also seems to play a role in which risk factors matter in the development of dementia. A French study found that men who had suffered a stroke were three times more likely to develop dementia, while stroke seemed to have no effect at all as a risk factor in women. But women with depression were twice as likely to suffer from dementia, and women unable to live without assistance due to an inability to perform routine tasks were 3.5 times more likely to develop dementia.

Researchers will continue to probe these gender differences in hopes of finding different ways to help men and women with Alzheimer's disease and, perhaps, find new treatments or, eventually, a cure.

 

How Do Alzheimer's and Dementia Progress?

By HealthTalk Staff | Medically reviewed by Ed Zimney, MD

Learn about the seven stages of Alzheimer's and specific symptoms that typically arise during each period. 

The way the disease proceeds and the array of symptoms that arise over time can vary from person to person. For consistency, physicians use the following staging system to identify the progression of the disease:

 

Stage 1: No impairment

The person has no memory problems, no perceptible symptoms, and is functioning normally.

 

Stage 2: Very mild cognitive decline

Decline in memory or thought processing may be normal for the person’s age or may be the first signs of Alzheimer’s. The person may complain of memory lapses, such as forgetting familiar words or losing personal items, like glasses and keys. But these are subjective indicators, and problems probably will not be apparent yet to friends or family members.

 

Stage 3: Mild cognitive decline

The person may:

• Not remember the names of new people they are introduced to
• Have a noticeably impaired ability to work or interact socially
• Lose or misplace valuable items
• Have a marked inability to plan or organize

Stage 4: Moderate cognitive decline

The person may:

• Not recall recent events
• Be unable to perform relatively challenging mental tasks, such as counting backwards from 100 by 7s
• Have a diminished ability to do complicated everyday tasks, such as shopping and paying bills
• Not remember significant events in his or her own life
• Begin to be withdrawn, particularly in challenging situations

Stage 5: Moderately severe cognitive decline

The person may:

• Not remember important information, such as their address or telephone number
• Know where they are, the day of the week, the month, or the season
• Have trouble with less challenging mental tasks, such as counting backwards from 40 by 4s
• Need help choosing clothing appropriate for the season or the setting
• Retain knowledge about themselves, such as their own name and the names of their immediate family members
• Eat, use the toilet, and perform similar personal functions on their own.

Stage 6: Severe cognitive decline

The person may:

• Be unaware of their surroundings and recent events
• Know their own name, but not remember their own personal history very well
• Sometimes forget their spouse’s name, but distinguish familiar from unfamiliar people
• Need assistance to dress
• Have an abnormal sleep/waking cycle
• Need help using the toilet (wiping, disposing of toilet paper, or flushing toilet)
• Develop urinary or fecal incontinence
• Undergo personality changes, such as extreme suspiciousness
• Experience delusions or hallucinations, or exhibit compulsive, repetitive behaviors such as hand-wringing
• Wander and become easily lost

Stage 7: Very severe cognitive decline

The patient may:

• Lose their ability to speak coherently (although they may utter occasional words or phrases)
• Need help with eating, using the toilet, and personal hygiene
• Have general urinary incontinence
• Be unable to walk or sit without help
• Eventually, be unable to hold up their head or swallow

 

What Was the First Sign of Alzheimer's Disease in Your Case?

Was memory loss the first sign of dementia or did something else tip you off that something was wrong?

 

By Bob DeMarco
Alzheimer's Reading Room 

When interviewed I get a version of this question every time. What were the early signs of Alzheimer's disease in your mother?

As many of you know, if you look at the various lists of the early signs of Alzheimer's disease you will usually see this listed first -- Memory loss is the most common sign of Alzheimer's disease.

Memory loss. Was memory loss the sign that "tipped" me to my mother's dementia. NO.

I am interested in hearing what you believe were the early signs that caused you to think that it might be Alzheimer's disease or dementia.

I know that most Alzheimer's caregivers conclude after the diagnosis, and after they gain a better understanding of Alzheimer's disease, that there were early signs that they missed or ignored.

For this discussion, I am interested in what you noticed as the early signs of Alzheimer's disease or early signs of dementia.

I'll write about our experience later. However, I can say this -- number one on my list is number ten on most lists.

Please use the comments box to answer the question. I would appreciate your insight. I might be able to use this information when I am interviewed on television and radio.

You are also welcome to write about this and submit an article if you care to do so.

 

Bob DeMarco is the Founder and Editor of the Alzheimer's Reading Room (ARR). Bob is a recognized influencer, speaker, and expert in the Alzheimer's and Dementia Community Worldwide. The ARR Knowledge Base contains more than 5,000 articles. Bob lives in Delray Beach, FL.

5 Ways to Help Prevent Alzheimer's Disease

By Jan Sheehan

Healthy habits that are good for you now have been shown to help prevent Alzheimer's later

Even though no drug therapy or treatment regimen has yet been found that will definitively prevent Alzheimer's disease, lifestyle choices can make a big difference in your risk of developing the condition down the line. Researchers are now discovering, in fact, that certain healthy habits and lifestyle practices appear to reduce your chances of developing Alzheimer's — and they say it's never too early to begin making healthy changes.

"We know that alterations in the brain associated with Alzheimer's can start decades before symptoms appear, so it may be wise to start thinking about prevention as early as your 30s and 40s," says Zoe Arvanitakis, MD, an Alzheimer's researcher at Rush University's Alzheimer's Disease Center in Chicago and associate professor of neurology at Rush University Medical School.

But what behaviors really make a difference? While there are no guarantees, experts believe that concentrating on the following five areas may give you a leg up on this difficult and debilitating illness.

1. Eat Smart
   Sticking to a healthy, low-fat diet has been linked to Alzheimer's prevention. One Harvard study of 13,000 women, age 70 and older, found that those who ate the most vegetables — especially green leafy ones (like spinach and romaine lettuce) and cruciferous ones (like broccoli and cauliflower) — experienced a slower rate of cognitive decline than those who ate the fewest vegetables. Turmeric, a traditional Indian yellow spice used in curry, also shows promise in Alzheimer's prevention. In animal studies, UCLA researchers discovered that Alzheimer's-like brain plaques disappeared after treatment with compounds found in this spice. A diet loaded with heart-healthy foods may also help stave off the disease. "High cholesterol increases the risk of developing Alzheimer's since clogged arteries around the heart can lead to damaged blood vessels in the brain," says Dr. Arvanitakis. Because it is thought that this type of damage may disrupt brain circuits that are important for memory, eating a diet low in saturated fat and trans fats may help keep cholesterol in check and protect against Alzheimer's.
2. Get Moving
   Simply getting off the couch and going for a brisk walk may help prevent dementia and Alzheimer's disease. An Australian study recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that as little as six months of regular exercise produced improvement in memory and cognitive function in a group of older adults. A separate six-year study of 1,700 seniors 65 and older found that working out three or more times per week slashed the risk of developing Alzheimer's and dementia by 35 percent.
3. Maintain a Healthy Weight
   Obesity during midlife appears to raise the risk of developing Alzheimer's in the later years. A 2008 Kaiser Permanente study of 6,500 men and women found that those who were 30 or more pounds overweight and accumulated lots of belly fat in their 40s were 3.6 times more likely to develop Alzheimer's decades later. Studies also show that diabetes, which is linked to obesity, also increases the risk of Alzheimer's. "This may be a direct result of high blood sugar or because diabetes is associated with high cholesterol," says Arvanitakis. But dropping weight during midlife, especially in the belly, can reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer's.
4. Consider Supplements
   Scientists are studying whether certain nutrients acquired in dietary-supplement form can help protect against Alzheimer's. Folic acid, which is known to reduce levels of the amino acid homocysteine, shows some promise because elevated homocysteine levels can increase the risk of both heart disease and Alzheimer's. In one European study, a daily dose of 800 mcg of folic acid lowered homocysteine levels and significantly improved memory and cognitive function in a group of middle-aged and senior adults. At one time, high doses of vitamin E were also thought to have a possible protective role against Alzheimer's disease, but recent studies have found no link between vitamin E supplements and Alzheimer's development. Some research, however, has suggested that ginkgo biloba, a popular memory-enhancing herb, may be helpful in delaying the development of Alzheimer's.
5. Stay Mentally Active
   Exercising your mind is one of the easiest ways to help prevent Alzheimer's. Researchers at Rush University's Alzheimer's Disease Center found that seniors who stayed mentally active by reading, doing crossword puzzles, and taking classes were more than twice as likely to stay free from Alzheimer's disease in comparison to less mentally active people. Other studies have produced similar results. "Using your brain to learn new information, solve problems, and form memories not only helps to maintain existing brain circuits but may also create new ones," says Arvanitakis. "This could prevent Alzheimer's disease from ever developing." So pick up a book or click on an informative Web site today. You may be helping to keep Alzheimer's at bay!

 

Is It Alzheimer's?

• By Katherine Lee

What distinguishes Alzheimer's from other types of dementia? Here's how experts make a diagnosis

Dementia is a general term that describes a significant loss of intellectual abilities, including memory, the ability to reason, and other cognitive and behavioral changes that can interfere with daily life. While a number of health conditions can lead to dementia and related brain deterioration, the most common cause is Alzheimer's disease, which according to one recent study sponsored by the National Institute on Aging, now accounts for as much as 70 percent of all cases of dementia in people 71 and older.
Alzheimer's disease strikes about 5 percent of all people between the ages of 65 and 74. Some forms of dementia can be treated, and some symptoms may even be reversed, especially if caught early. Most types of dementia, however, including Alzheimer's, become progressively worse and are, as of now, incurable.
 
Symptoms of Dementia
While dementia presents itself differently from individual to individual, common symptoms include:

• Memory loss that increases over time
• Language problems, such as difficulty finding words or understanding spoken or written communication
• Disorientation, eventually extending to familiar places
• Persistent confusion, including about the date or time of day
• Face-recognition issues, in time even with familiar people
• Lack of self-regard, including neglect of personal safety or hygiene
• Inability to do routine tasks, such as pay bills or shop for groceries
• Erratic behavioral and psychological changes, such as paranoia, hallucinations, depression, temper tantrums, or insomnia

Diagnosing Alzheimer's
Since the only way to definitively confirm the presence of Alzheimer's disease is by looking at changes in brain tissue, which can usually only be examined after death during an autopsy, any diagnosis of Alzheimer's is essentially an educated guess. But, despite the challenge of sorting out Alzheimer's from other causes of dementia, experts at the National Institute on Aging estimate that doctors at specialized centers can now diagnose Alzheimer's with 90 percent accuracy. Some diagnostic tools doctors use for Alzheimer's include:

• Patient evaluation, including an overview of their general health, previous medical conditions, and their ability to conduct daily activities
• Cognitive tests to measure memory, problem solving, and language skills
• Lab tests of blood, urine, and spinal fluid
• Brains scans

Other Forms of Dementia
While Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia, affecting an estimated 4.5 million Americans, other diseases or traumas can also lead to neurological dysfunction. In some cases, different types of dementia can coexist in one patient. Some examples of non-Alzheimer's dementia include:
Vascular dementia. Caused by impaired blood flow to parts of the brain, this form of dementia can occur when narrowed blood vessels provide less oxygen than necessary to the brain tissue, after a major stroke, brain hemorrhage, or a period of catastrophically low blood pressure, or due to other artery-damaging conditions such as systemic lupus erythematosus or temporal arteritis. Onset of symptoms can be sudden (such as following a major stroke) or can progress gradually after a series of smaller strokes (called multi-infarct dementia).

Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). Patients with this type of dementia have abnormal clumps of protein in their brains. DLB symptoms include progressive cognitive decline with lethargy, visual hallucinations, and loss of movement and motor control. Lewy bodies have also been found in people with Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's, suggesting a connection among the three conditions.
Frontotemporal dementia (including Pick's disease). This rare disorder is sometimes characterized by the shrinking of areas in the front and sides of the brain (which can be detected with a brain-imaging scan). Because these areas of the brain regulate social behavior and judgment, this type of dementia is often characterized by sudden personality changes and inappropriate behavior, as well as by problems with understanding and using language.
Huntington's disease. People with this fatal genetic disorder develop involuntary movements, such as twitches and spasms, difficulty with motor tasks, mood swings, intellectual impairment, personality changes, and eventually severe dementia.
Parkinson's disease. Early symptoms of Parkinson's include stiffness of the limbs, tremors, speech impairment, and difficulty with walking and muscle control. Dementia can often occur as a secondary symptom in the later stages of the disease.
Related reactions. Some other situations that can cause dementia-like symptoms include reactions to medications, thyroid problems, infections in the brain, alcoholism, HIV-related dementia, and even vitamin deficiencies.
The Future of Alzheimer's Diagnosis
Early and accurate diagnosis offers the best chance of treating Alzheimer's symptoms and helps to give patients and their families more time to evaluate and discuss their treatment and care options. For this reason, doctors are working on ways to improve early detection. Some of the latest efforts include:

• Memory tests. Researchers are working to improve standardized memory and recall tests to better track changes that might indicate early Alzheimer's and even predict which individuals are at higher risk of developing the disease in the future.
• Tissue comparisons. Studies are examining the relationship between early damage to brain tissue and later development of Alzheimer's.
• Blood tests. Researchers are looking for ways to identify changes in blood chemistry that could one day lead to blood tests or other simple tools to identify individuals at risk for Alzheimer's.
• Imaging scans. Doctors are looking at ways to use neuroimaging, such as positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), to one day help identify individuals who are in the early stages of the disease, even before they develop symptoms.