If you are a fan of football, then you have undoubtedly heard of CTE. This brain disease occurs as a result of brain injuries and concussions, and it can have a significant impact on someone’s life, causing depression, dementia, and other health complications. But CTE is not just a problem for professional athletes. In fact, it can be just as problematic in nonathletes, especially because of the fact that it is often so unexpected.
There’s a lot of material in the media about CTE and it is mostly negative. It is an awful disease, and it usually cannot be diagnosed until the person suffering from it has passed away. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy is also often confused with Alzheimer’s disease in the elderly, making a correct path of treatment very difficult to administer. Some good news is emerging in this field, however. Researchers may have identified a biomarker that can help to identify and diagnose CTE while the person suffering from it is still alive. Called CCL11, this biomarker has the potential to alert doctors that they are not dealing with Alzheimer’s, but something completely different. This potential biomarker is present in the cerebrospinal fluid, and can be accessed while the patient is still alive.
The hope is that a more accurate diagnosis will enable doctors to offer better treatment, and perhaps even preventative measures can be put in place to prevent the disease from worsening. This could save a lot of lives and even improve the quality of life for those that are really struggling with the effects of this disease. More research is needed here, of course, but this is the first step in the right direction for a big problem in the medical community. Remember, it’s not just pro football players that suffer from this, but the people that we love, too. If this medical procedure can help them, then this is a big advancement in the field.
A potential biomarker for distinguishing CTE from Alzheimer’s disease is being studied.
When you have a loved one that is suffering from some sort of cognitive issue or dementia, finding the right memory care for them needs to be a top priority. Finding care is important, but finding the right care is even more so. Although many different types of dementia might appear to be similar, they are actually quite different and require different nuances, both in medical treatment and in the caregiving that’s provided. At Paradise In-Home Care, our caregivers are professionally trained to know how to effectively help those with differing types of dementia and provide just the right amount of help in the right places.
If you have questions about what kind of care is best for an elderly loved one, get in touch with a medical professional today. While in-home care can help a lot of people, it isn’t right for everyone. Ensuring that your mom or dad is getting the right care is a start in the right direction, but it’s a big decision and getting the advice of a medical professional familiar with their needs will make sure that you go about this accurately right from the beginning.
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