well
its according to what the definition of is is
the most common question i get asked about alzheimers is
i get asked at least once a week is
should i get tested
this last week a former nurse stopped me
you know my mom died from alzheimers disease
im worried i will get it too
i knew what was coming out of her mouth next
should i get tested
first
ill answer this for this date 4/20/18
an important date each year
soon
though the question will be answered differently
so
on this day
should you get tested
if you are having memory issues you should go to your doctor
make an appointment only for memory issues
make a list of what you have noticed
dont let them ignore your complaints
dont bring up other health issues just the memory problems
you should be given a history and exam looking for causes
this history and exam may find the source of memory issues
like poor control of health things like blood pressure diabetes
sleep issues mental issues medications cholesterol etc
you should have a memory test
the clock test or the mini cog test are not good enough
i recommend trumps test he took the moca test
please dont take it online as if you are exposed to it too much
its not as accurate
if you flunk the moca test you should have a neuropsychological exam
you should have lab tests
cbc blood count metabolic profile thyroid level
maybe a vit b12 and vit d3 levels
then based on these results
you may need an mri
looking for brain shrinkage and or strokes and or masses etc
you may get your answer when all this is done
in private offices thats the workup thats done
now some doctors will do more
but insurance doesnt pay for them
genetic tests for apoe 4 status and early onset alzheimers genes
spinal fluid analysis for beta amyloid and tau proteins
amyvid pet scan for beta amyloid
if you have or are going to have alzheimers disease
those last two tests will be positive
most folks dont go this far
the noncovered tests cost close to $10,000
i have had them done
i know the answer to the question
do i have it
i do
now 8 years ago those spinal fluid tests and amyvid scan
were not usually done in the private doctors office
they were done mostly in research settings
like in the adni 2 study i did
its the study that actually led to my diagnosis
now its common for private doctors to do these tests
if the patient wants to pay for them
now
in the research world only
how and when you make the diagnosis of alzheimers disease
is about to change
in the research world
the diagnosis of alzheimers disease will not be based
on symptoms like memory loss
yes
thats right
i repeat
the diagnosis of alzheimers disease will not be based
on symptoms like memory loss
it will be done by diagnostic testing
genetic tests
spinal fluid analysis
amyvid pet scans for amyloid
tau protein pet scans for tau
thats how it will be diagnosed
think about this
its not based on memory issues
so
lets say when i was 55 years old
i would go to the doctor
should i be tested to see if i have it
yes
why
strong real strong family history of alzheimers disease
so
beside a history and exam
they would do the labs
then
draw blood for genetic tests
mine would be positive for apoe 4 apoe 4 gene the late onset gene
a spinal tap for amyloid and tau would be done
my levels would be starting to become abnormal
an amyvid pet scan would be done
it would be positive for amyloid plaques
a tau pet scan would be done
it would be positive most likely
now at 55 years old i had no memory issues
in fact at 58 years old i had memory screening for my long term care
similar to the moca test that was normal
my diagnosis at 55 years old
based on these 4 diagnostic tests
would be
alzheimers disease
now this is in the research world
what happens there eventually gets into the private medical world
its explained this is like coronary artery disease early on
its not based on symptoms like chest pain or heart attack
its based on diagnostic testing like cholesterol stress testing
heart ct scans
you can be told you have coronary artery disease before symptoms
start
so
it will be with alzheimers disease
ive had all my tests done
so
i know my diagnosis
what this means is
many of you reading this right now have alzheimers disease
that could be diagnosed before symptoms start
unlike coronary artery disease
which can be treated
alzheimers disease cant be treated yet
yet
but the thinking is
within 10 years there will be treatment
so then
you want to know as soon as you can that you have it
so you can start treatment
so
nurse i met
this is the reason i hesitated to answer that question
should i be tested
a new research study using these tests is available across the us
its the 3rd one of the adni studies
i did the adni 2
its called the
adni 3 study
you can click on the link for more information
you can also go to clinicaltrials.gov or to trial match at www.alz.org
to find more information on research studies
the lack of research volunteers is the biggest obstacle to doing
alzheimers research
to find a cure for this awful disease
do your part
i am
the organicgreen doctor
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