Early warning signs of Alzheimer's show up years before diagnosis

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

A review of the evidence reveals more about the pre-clinical stage of Alzheimer's disease.
It is becoming increasingly evident that Alzheimer's disease may begin some time before symptoms like memory loss require medical attention. Now researchers at the Karolinska Institute, together with colleagues elsewhere, shed new light on the pre-clinical stage. This is important in understanding the disease, as well as in getting patients into treatment earlier.

They studied research involving 1,207 people who went on to develop Alzheimer's disease and over 9,000 healthy controls. Those at the pre-clinical stage had deficits in many cognitive skills, including global ability, speed of perception and episodic memory. But there was not, necessarily, any obvious memory problem. It looks as if many brain structures are affected long before the classical symptoms of Alzheimer's disease become obvious. The researchers think this pre-clinical stage often lasts for several years. A better understanding of this area will, perhaps, lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment.

Source
Neuropsychology July 2005

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