A report issued recently in the Archives of Neurology claims that mild episodes of memory loss that were once thought to be a normal part of aging may in fact be the first signs of Alzheimer's. The journal cited a report in which researchers found that such memory loss usually progresses into full blown Alzheimer's.
"The notion of an inevitable decline in mental faculties with age appears not to be the case. More likely, what previously was believed to be age-associated cognitive decline may have represented what we now recognize as very early AD," says Dr. John C. Morris of the Washington University School of Medicine. The former head of the National Institutes of Health's Alzheimer's Unit called the report one of the most important in recent times. "Persistent memory problems should be taken seriously and evaluated by experts," Khachaturian says. "It's serious business because this is one organ, the brain, that determines who we are and our personhood. Your losing it [to Alzheimer's] has impact."
Over 4 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer's and 400,00 new cases are diagnosed every year. The researchers warn that even relatively minor lapses in mental capacity may be serious signals of approaching Alzheimer's. The study indicates that Alzheimer's may start earlier in life than first thought. With the realization that Alzheimer's may start early, people who display the telltale signs can seek treatment earlier. Currently, most people do not realize they have Alzheimer's until it is much too late. Today's drug treatments are only effective with early diagnosis of the disease.