Of all of the diseases that medicine has yet to find a cure for, Alzheimer’s is considered one of the cruelest on record in that the individual suffering with the disease literally vanishes to the point that they no longer exist. The month of November is designated as National Alzheimer’s Disease Month to remind us that over 5 million Americans now suffer with this incurable disease.
Furthermore, it is the 6th leading cause of death in the US today and the number of cases has more than doubled since 1983 when then President Ronald Reagan declared November as National Alzheimer’s Disease Month. During November, we focus our attention on the signs and symptoms of the disease and recognize those individuals in our cities and communities who’ve been impacted by it.
What exactly is Alzheimer’s Disease?
According to the Mayo Clinic, “Alzheimer’s Disease is a progressive neurologic disorder that causes the brain to shrink (atrophy) and brain cells to die.” As the most common cause of dementia, it exhibits a continuous decline in behavioral and social skills as well as thinking which ultimately affects an individual’s ability to function independently. It starts with memory loss and over a period of time, renders the afflicted individual incapable of doing daily activities and chores, due to intense memory and muscle loss.
Statistics
Nearly 6 million Americans age 65 and older live with the disease, 80% of which are 75 and older. Approximately 50 million people worldwide currently suffer with dementia while an estimated 60% to 70% of them have Alzheimer’s Disease.
Additional Considerations
Some of the early warning signs include forgetting recent conversations and/or events. As it progresses, the sufferer develops severe memory impairment and loses their ability to perform normal daily tasks. Although there are medications that temporarily improve a person’s symptoms or slow down the disease’s progression, there is no treatment that can cure Alzheimer’s Disease. However, current treatments can help individuals with the disease to briefly maintain their independence and maximize their ability to function.
Imaging Technologies used in researching Alzheimer’s Disease
There are 3 forms of diagnostic imaging technologies that are helpful in researching Alzheimer’s Disease:
- Functional imaging – functional MRI and PET scans are used to reveal how cells in various regions of the brain are working.
- Molecular imaging – functional MRI and PET scans help to detect cellular or chemical changes linked to Alzheimer’s Disease.
- Structural imaging – CT scans and MRI’s provide information regarding the position, shape, or volume of brain tissue.
While the current diagnosis of the disease relies primarily on documenting the patient’s mental decline, at this point the disease has already damaged the brain severely. To schedule a medical diagnostic imaging text please call Vital Imaging today or at your earliest convenience at (305) 596-9992.