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Dr. Jack Diamond, Scientific Director for the Alzheimer Society was in British Columbia for a speaking tour this week, sharing knowledge about the latest developments in Alzheimer’s research and answering questions about diagnosis and treatments. Here we share a few Q&As from Dr. Diamond’s speaking engagements:
Q: We often hear about people with dementia who showed signs long before they were diagnosed by their doctor. Are there any reliable screening tests?
A: Unfortunately there are no totally reliable screening tests. As we speak, various committees/panels, etc. in Canada and in the world generally are trying to establish early diagnosis criteria – even pre-symptomatic ones. There is a condition called Mild Cognitive Impairment (MC) which occurs prior to the onset of the dementia – perhaps by decades. In some 70% (the number varies) of people diagnosed with MCI, the condition progresses to the full-blown Alzheimer’s disease. Many are beginning to refer to MCI as a “pre-Alzheimer disease” state. What is now well established is that the abnormal changes in the brain (the “pathological” changes) characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease begin to appear in the brain decades before the dementia appears, and also in the brains of people with MCI – BUT – sometimes in those that do NOT progress to Alzheimer’s disease proper. But there’s little information on reliable signs or symptoms (aside from MCI) that occur before the disease is diagnosed.
Q: As with any research, there are always new findings and studies about what is and isn’t good for your brain, and sometimes it’s hard to know what to believe. What can you or your research say is good for our brain and what should be avoided?
A: If you look up the “healthy brain” information on the Alzheimer Society website and also in my booklet A Report on Alzheimer’s Disease and Current Research you’ll see lots of advice about how to help reduce one’s chances of getting Alzheimer’s disease, and about the risk factors that should be avoided if possible.
Q: If someone has Alzheimer’s disease in their family, is there a way to test or determine the likelihood that someone else in the family may also be diagnosed with the disease?
A: Except for the presence of apoE4 gene, which does indicate an increased susceptibility to the disease, the answer is no! Other genes are implicated, though their presence has much less importance than the apoE4 gene (this is all discussed in A Report on Alzheimer’s Disease and Current Research). If a parent or sibling (i.e. a direct relative – nobody else) has the disease, one’s chances are tripled. But understand what this means. In 100 people whose families never once had even one with Alzheimer’s disease, on average 5 will get it, and 95 will not. In 100 people of whom EVERYONE had a direct relative, only 15 will get it and 85 WILL NOT!
Missed the speaking engagement or the teleconference? You can listen to the recording online.
Dr. Jack Diamond, Scientific Director for the Alzheimer Society
