Deetya Potakamuri

The Journey to Alzheimer’s Disease Diagnosis and Beyond Through Different Perspectives

Started June 20, 2024

Abstract or project description

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disease that affects at least 50 million people worldwide and is on the rise to affect about 152 million by 2050. This progressive disease burdens both the patients and their family/caregiver, bringing upon social, emotional, and financial challenges. The pathology of AD involves the build up of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles years before the onset and diagnosis of the disease. Signs of cognitive decline are often first reported to health care professionals before evaluation and eventual diagnosis and treatment. Initially, these signs are often diagnosed as mild cognitive impairment (MCI), but consistent further testing is required by health care professionals to monitor the progress of the disorder and its possible development into dementia and AD. Health care professionals utilize a combination of cognitive assessment, evidence of AD pathology, and other testing to diagnose the disease and rule out other potential causes of cognitive impairment. An earlier diagnosis of AD is beneficial in planning current and future care and management for AD symptoms and limitations for the patient, their families/caregivers, and the health care professionals themselves. In this review article, we will discuss the current etiology of AD in addition to considering different approaches health care providers could take to more effectively diagnose and manage the disease along with their limitations.