Dementia and Alzheimer's Screening is Necessary

The numbers say it all. Every 65 seconds, an American develops Alzheimer’s disease that by 2050, it is expected that there will be more than 14 million people in the United States with this condition, most of which will be living in facilities for Alzheimer’s.

It is also the 6^th leading cause of death in the country with 1 in 3 seniors dying from Alzheimer’s or dementia.

With Alzheimer’s disease having no clear cause or any known treatments yet, getting screened will allow for early detection of the disease so that lifestyle changes could and other modalities can be implemented to maintain your quality of life.

Why should you get Screened for Alzheimer’s?

Many people living in facilities for Alzheimer’s knew about their condition when it was already in its advanced stages. Some would also say that there’s no point in early screening when Alzheimer’s is untreatable. But getting an early diagnosis can actually be beneficial in a lot of ways.

For one, you’ll be able to change the way you live so you can preserve cognitive function and slow down the progress of the disease.

By eliminating many of the risk factors for Alzheimer’s, you’ll be able to keep yourself healthy for a longer time than not knowing that you’re already aggravating your condition with bad lifestyle choices.

Early screening also gives you a better chance at benefiting from different treatment options for Alzheimer’s and you can even participate in clinical trials. This means that you’ll be able to try medications, interventions, and modalities that could help you get a better prognosis from the disease.

When should you get Screened for Alzheimer’s?

Loss of memory is usually the first sign of Alzheimer’s disease, but it can also be a symptom of other medical conditions that need to be ruled out. So if you begin to notice that you’re becoming forgetful, it’s best to get screened to see if your memory loss is related to Alzheimer’s or any form of dementia.

You should also get yourself screened if you have family members with Alzheimer’s or dementia, especially your grandparents, parents, or siblings who got diagnosed with the disease in their 30s or 40s.

Also, remember that women are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s than men, so you should considering screening if you’re a woman in your 60s.

Why go through Screening when Alzheimer’s is not Curable?

Finally, some people would disagree about early screening saying that it’s useless since Alzheimer’s is not curable, after all. But if you think about it, getting screened will give you more time to come to terms with having the condition and prepare yourself and your family for the journey ahead.

While you’re still able, you can make all the necessary changes to keep yourself healthy for a longer time and slow down the disease process. You’ll also be able to increase your quality of life and be as independent as possible while you’re at it.

Fallbrook Assisted Living is proud to offer its services to Fremont, NE, and surrounding areas and cities: Arlington, Cedar Bluffs, Ames Nickerson, Fontanelle, Arlington, Leshara, Colon, and Hooper