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By Bonnie Jenkins, Advanced Natural Medicine
In most diseases early diagnosis is key to getting the most effective treatment. You likely already know that early treatment can prevent disaster when it comes to diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
But is the same true for Alzheimer’s Disease? I’d say yes, without hesitation. But unfortunately, new research shows that a lot of doctors don’t think the same way… and that they might be hurting patient outcomes by ignoring the early signs of this devastating condition.
No Cure, So We Don’t Care
Researchers in Australia recently found that because there is no cure for Alzheimer’s, many doctors don’t put an emphasis on early care. In fact, many overlook the early signs altogether.
Advantages of Early Diagnosis:
1. Patients to get support sooner.
Whether it’s from family, friends, or organized support groups, the sooner an Alzheimer’s patient begins receiving support, the better his ongoing quality of life will be.
2. Plan for the future.
There is a great deal of planning that goes into the care for someone in the later stages of Alzheimer’s. An early diagnosis gives the patient an opportunity to participate in the planning of his/her future care.
3. Slow down the progression of Alzheimer’s.
An earlier diagnosis will allow you to make these changes sooner so that you can enjoy a better quality of life for longer.
Slowing Down Dementia
There have been a number of advances in drug treatments that can help slow the progress of Alzheimer’s, but I want to focus on the natural remedies you can turn to for help. The natural world provides plenty of options when it comes to responding to Alzheimer’s disease. The sooner you begin treatment, the better.
The most recent research shows that a combination of vitamins and amino acids can be very effective at slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s and can even restore some of your cognitive function.
One study looked at folate, vitamin B6, alpha-tocopherol, S-adenosyl methionine, N-acetyl cysteine, and acetyl-L-carnitine taken together by patients in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Over 12 months, these patients showed a marked improvement in tests measuring cognitive function. The improved function in performing daily tasks and in cognitive abilities was especially noteworthy because it was greater than those seen in patients taking prescription medicines.
In a follow up study done on this same combination of vitamins and amino acids, results came back much the same. Patients taking the combination had up to a 30% improvement in their performance on cognitive tests and in mood and daily function.
A Regular Exercise Routine
Research also shows that a regular exercise routine can slow the progression of Alzheimer’s. In a study comparing people undertaking a twelve-week exercise routine with people engaging in social activities and with a control group, the exercise group scored the highest on cognitive tests after the study was complete.
Now, even though exercise outperforms social interaction in slowing cognitive decline, I do want to underscore the importance of a social life even after you’ve been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Time spent with people provides a lot of benefits—it can elevate your mood, it can challenge you to remember new things, and it can help you look at things in a new way. These are all good experiences for everyone, but especially for Alzheimer’s patients.
There are few things more frightening than a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. However, the earlier you know, the more you can do to improve and preserve your quality of life and to prepare for changes in your health and function. With Alzheimer’s disease, as with most diseases, early diagnosis makes a big difference in your outcome. So talk to your doctor about your concerns, and let him/her know that when it comes to cognitive decline, you want to know about the early warning signs.
References:
Preidt, Robert. “Doctors’ Attitudes Play Part in Early Alzheimer’s Diagnosis,” MedlinePlus. (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_86790.html) 7/13/2009
Chan A, et al. “Efficacy of a vitamin / nutriceutical formulation for early-stage Alzheimer's disease: a 1-year, open-label pilot study with an 16-month caregiver extension,” Am J Alzheimer’s Dis Other Demen 2008; 23(6): 571-85.
Remington R, et al. “Efficacy of a Vitamin / Nutriceutical Formulation for Moderate-stage to Later-stage Alzheimer's disease: A Placebo-controlled Pilot Study,” Am J Alzheimer’s Dis Other Demen 2009; 24(1): 27-33.
Stevens J and Killeen M. “A randomised controlled trial testing the impact of exercise on cognitive symptoms and disability of residents with dementia,” Contemp Nurse 2006; 21(1): 32-40.
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