Early detection of Alzheimer's disease is one of the issues that most concerns the population, as reflected in the results of the Survey “Attitudes and perceptions of the Spanish population regarding Alzheimer’s”, carried out by the Pasqual Maragall Foundation. In it, practically the entire Spanish population (94%) would like to know if they are in the early stages of the disease despite not having symptoms, and 61% stated that they would take a test to detect it, even knowing that existing treatments neither cure nor delay the disease.
As Dr. explains. Nina Gramunt, neuropsychologist and technical director of the Social Area of the Pasqual Maragall Foundation, “These data are very interesting because Early diagnosis is key to improving the quality of life of people with Alzheimer's because it allows early action with treatments and secondary prevention strategies, optimizing their effectiveness. In this way, it is possible for the person with Alzheimer's to maintain their personal autonomy and cognitive abilities for as long as possible and to be able to plan their future.”
Everything indicates that future therapies will delay the onset and progression of the disease, and will target patients in increasingly earlier stages of the disease. For example, recent studies by the Pasqual Maragall Foundation research centre point to the possibility of detecting Alzheimer's disease. in its asymptomatic phase through a blood test. The progress of this research requires the willingness of citizens to receive a diagnosis as soon as possible.
For this reason, the survey also investigates the reasons why the population would like the disease to be detected early, and these indicate that detecting it early would give them time to receive appropriate treatment to reduce the impact of the disease (59%), be able to contribute to the advancement of research by participating in studies or clinical trials (53%) and have time to reflect on the future and make legal and financial decisions (52%).
Every year in our country are diagnosed about 40,000 new cases of Alzheimer's and it is According to the Spanish Society of Neurology (SEN), 801% of those with mild cases are still undiagnosed. In Spain, there are more than 900,000 people suffering from this disease, and with the increase in life expectancy and the quality of care, the number of cases is expected to have doubled by 2050.
What to do if you suspect Alzheimer's?
If you suspect you may have the disease, you should schedule an appointment with your family doctor to assess your symptoms. He or she will then decide whether to refer you to a neurologist for a more in-depth examination.At the beginning, the main and most frequent symptom is progressive memory loss, which usually manifests itself in difficulty remembering recent events, but there may also be difficulties concentrating or solving problems, in the use of language, such as problems finding certain words or a decrease in vocabulary, or changes in conduct or behavior.”, details the Dr. Gramunt.
It is important to rule out other possible causes or underlying diseases, such as infectious processes, cerebrovascular problems, mood disorders or even the side effects of some medication.
Therefore, the specialist will analyze information about the patient's medical history, including medical history, treatments received, lifestyle habits, family history and sociodemographic data, such as level of education or profession, and will consider performing additional tests, such as neuroimaging or cognitive tests, to help determine the diagnosis.
For more information: Blog Let's talk about Alzheimer's
