Early diagnosis
offers hope for Alzheimer’s
By Kristine Berey
As baby boomers get older, Alzheimer’s Disease is becoming a
reality for increasing numbers of people. It is estimated that 360,000 Canadians
have Alzheimer’s and that by 2031, 750,000 new cases of dementia will be diagnosed. Of these, Alzheimer’s
represents over 60 per cent.
The degenerative
brain disorder gradually destroys brain cells, severely impairing memory,
judgment, behaviour, coordination and day-to-day functioning. It affects women
twice as often as it does men, and while family history may be a factor, a
clear cause of the disease has not yet been established.
Although the
progressive loss of autonomy that characterizes Alzheimer’s Disease
makes it one of the most feared of illnesses, it is important to be aware
of its symptoms and get help early if necessary, an audience of almost 400
heard at the recent Awareness Conference organized by the Alzheimer Groupe.
“The
stages of Alzheimer’s, mild, moderate and severe,
can be targeted for therapy,” said keynote speaker
and neurologist Dr. Serge Gauthier. Describing a class
of new medications known as cholinesterase inhibitors, Gauthier said that
while the drugs are not a dramatic cure, they can stabilize a person’s
condition by as much as a year, allowing the patient to remain at
home longer, with a better quality of life.
The medications
work best when started early, when the symptoms are still relatively mild,
Gauthier said. Benefits are still noticeable if started later, however. “Those
[in the study] who started later improved, but not as much as those who went
into treatment as soon as they were diagnosed,”
Gauthier said.
In addition
to accessing early medical treatment, another compelling reason for early
diagnosis is the chance for the patient and her family to gain access to readily
available support.
Marva Whyte,
director of support services at AGI, described some of the help her organization
provides to patients and families. “We help them answer some very practical
questions, like, how do you get this individual to a doctor?” Whyte
said. AGI runs groups for families dealing with different stages of
disease, including one for newly diagnosed patients, who are still lucid despite
experiencing some of the symptoms. “[In the group] they form powerful
bonds of friendship when these seem to be slipping away,” Whyte said.
As well, the group provides respite to caregivers, so as to “avoid premature
and inappropriate placement.”
Training for
hired caregivers is also provided by the organization. “Paid workers
are often devoted and dedicated, but they lack the necessary skills,”
Whyte said. The special course includes a manual that remains the property
of the family to use for future caregivers.
Losing your
keys and forgetting someone’s name are nothing to worry about, if that
is your only complaint. Memory loss by itself, especially if no one else has
complained, is rarely Alzheimer’s, Gauthier said. “All people
have a fear of getting this illness,” said panelist and general practitioner
Dr. Serge Bruneau, adding that close family members are more likely to notice something is wrong, rather than the patient
herself. “Alzheimer’s is not forgetting a phone number,”
he said. “It’s forgetting how to use the phone.”
[photo caption]
Dr. Serge Gauthier
