New research points to a new method of detecting Alzheimer’s disease, and it looks like it might be able to help a lot of people screen for the disease sooner than what is currently done.
This method works by looking at amyloid beta proteins–the hallmark indicator of Alzheimer’s. In Alzheimer’s these become tainted and eventually lead to the symptoms that we think of when we think of Alzheimer’s: memory loss, confusion, and poor coordination. In the past, these weren’t easily found until after someone had passed away, but researchers believe that they can be identified by looking at Oligomeric protein levels, thus allowing doctors to identify the presence of Alzheimer’s.
This research was conducted by the University of Houston. Their findings were published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia. Because there’s currently no cure, steps forward when it comes to prevention and treatments are all very important. People with Alzheimer’s see a steady decline when it comes to both physical and cognitive health. Making life better through early detection and better treatment is a tiny victory for those suffering from Alzheimer’s and their family members, but it’s a victory nonetheless.
Maybe you have a loved one that is struggling with Alzheimer’s disease right now. If that’s the case, early detection is already off of the table. However, that doesn’t mean that they don’t deserve high quality care and a lot of love and attention. Getting the people in your life that are struggling here connected to the right resources is a high priority.
Because every situation is a little bit different, individualized attention is important when it comes to memory care–and for every other type of senior care. About 6 million people in the United States have Alzheimer’s according to official records. It’s expected that this number will continue to grow over the coming years. Hopefully, this research leads to better care and treatment down the road.
The study authors also indicated that because Alzheimer’s typically isn’t detected until it’s further along, therapeutic drug development is not as advanced as it could be. Detecting the disease earlier on a more consistent basis would allow future researchers to continue to develop more effective medications and help those that have Alzheimer’s live longer, better lives.
We’d love to talk more about memory care and how it might benefit your family. In-home care allows care to come to you–and it’s done in a one on one manner. This allows the caregiver to help out in the way that works best–not the way that helps the greatest number of people. This can be especially helpful when it comes to someone with dementia. Study after study indicates that seniors with dementia do better when they are in a place that they are familiar with–like their home. Bringing care to you can achieve this.
Give us a call to talk. One of our trained caregivers would be happy to sit down with you during a free consultation and help you go over your options when it comes to care and how it might help someone with dementia.
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