Yet another thing to worry about : Alzheimer's!

[mg_2204]

I've been to a highly interesting conference on Alzheimer's recently and... did you know diabetes increases Alzheimer's risk??!

Diabetes is strongly linked to vascular complications that cause kidney, heart and circulation problems, diseases such as arteriosclerosis, stroke, but the actual process involved that links Alzheimer’s disease to diabetes is still unclear. But it's there! So much is yet to be understood about Alzheimer's.

THE CLOCK TEST :
There is a little test and unfortunately many doctors don't bother with it.

Draw a circle on a piece of paper and ask the person to draw a clock which indicates 11h10. There should be 12 numbers. Number 12 should be at the top. Two distinguisable hands. Time shown correctly.

Note : If the person fails the test don't panic. Just strongly suggest the person sees a doctor as soon as possible. There is another more specific test (MMSE) and it's a great tool to confirm the diagnosis. There is a huge stigma (still!) about dementia but early detection can't be stressed enough.

Early detection is vital! Often family and friends notice changes. Medication can made the difference, but only if taken at the early stage. It can mean spending 2 years at home instead of a nursing home...

Because we all suffer from diabetes and other people we love and care about do (many elders), I thought it was important to post this.

[JediSkipdogg]

No offense, but I may even fail the clock test half the time.

So diabetes causes alzheimers, and alzheimers causes diabetes? It's interesting how studies have proven it both ways, seems like only one could be correct.

[Stuboy]

so what... if you can draw a clock with two hands pointing to 11:10 then you're ok?

Fantastic...

Sorry, sounds like a dumb test to me. How is this a test for alzheimer's?

[mg_2204]

... as it was explained during the conference, Alzheimer's is not just about memory loss. Some processes don't happen in the brain. It's an all encompassing disease.

That test is a guide only. There are other tests (like the MMSE, far more accurate but only done by a trained physician). This isn't the ultimate test to know you have Alzheimer's...

Usually people wait until it's too late. I've looked after (and still am!) people suffering from Alzheimer's. Let me tell you, I don't find that test stupid at all. Alzheimer's is a living death.

[Stuboy]

oh, please dont take what i said the wrong way... for the record, my nan has this disease

I dont understand HOW that test could possibly tell that you have the disease.

[mg_2204]

oh, please dont take what i said the wrong way... for the record, my nan has this disease

I dont understand HOW that test could possibly tell that you have the disease.


I never take things the wrong way :)

I am so sorry your nan has this disease. Mine had it too.

Alzheimer's brings a deterioration in the functional abilities of daily living. At the beginning the person will express feelings of incompetence and loss of control.

HOW They can't make sense of things anymore. Time for instance. Money management. Great difficulty following a fav recipe they've done for years. The clock test is just a tool, a guide. Failing doesn't necessarily mean it's Alzheimer's. There could be a number of reasons. But it's always good to check and seek medical advice.

Early detection allows patients to have a better quality of life.

[slipperyelm]

Yesterday on the Diane Reem (spelling?) show on NPR the topic was Alzheimer's disease. The expert did say that diabetics were more likely than non-diabetics to get Alzheimer's. I don't remember him quantifying the correlation though. And of course he named other factors that correlate with Alz', including middle age hypertension and middle age onset obesity --which are both so common anyway. Evidently if you get high BP or fat before middle age, the correlation is not as high. Imagine that!

[Stuboy]

Well, i can draw the clock just fine... It would be interesting to see if my nan can draw it too...

[Emm]

That test would surely only be of use once you already know there's something going on.... Don't most Alzheimers sufferers go for ages, sometimes many years, through the first phase of such vague symptoms that people wouldn't know anything is wrong? For that test to work in that first phase, it would be a matter of perfect timing, wouldn't it?

What if you suspect something is up in those early stages and want to find out then... is there a blood test or something?

[mg_2204]

What if you suspect something is up in those early stages and want to find out then... is there a blood test or something?

No, a blood test won't reveal anything. The only way you can be sure is by counting lesions to the brain... during an autopsy.