(Des Moines) A simple blood test could soon detect Iowa dementia cases before symptoms. Iowa advocates say it’s best to know as early as possible.
“There have been several treatments that have come out that can slow the progression of Alzheimer’s,” said Lauren Livingston, Alzheimer’s Association-Iowa Chapter. “The treatments for now anyway are for people in the early stages of this disease.”
Livingston says Dementia’s been in the news of late after it was revealed the wife of comedian Jay Leno had been diagnosed with it.
Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder that gets worse over time. It’s characterized by changes in the brain that lead to deposits of certain proteins. Alzheimer’s disease causes the brain to shrink and brain cells to eventually die. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia — a gradual decline in memory, thinking, behavior, and social skills. These changes affect a person’s ability to function.
About 6.5 million people in the United States age 65 and older live with Alzheimer’s disease. Among them, more than 70% are 75 years old and older. Of the about 55 million people worldwide with dementia, 60% to 70% are estimated to have Alzheimer’s disease.
The early signs of the disease include forgetting recent events or conversations. Over time, it progresses to serious memory problems and loss of the ability to perform everyday tasks.
