Docs Now Say the Have An Alzheimer's Test

If you could take a test and find whether or not you or a loved one has Alzheimer's Disease, would you take the test?

Before now, no definitive test was said to be available - short of examining the brain after death.

But technology and research advances have changed this scenario, according to story just published in the Wall Street Journal.

According to the article, the FDA has just approved a test developed by Eli Lilly & Co. that detects the presence of proteins in the brain that are related to Alzheimer's disease.

It's said the tool could enable clinicians to detect Alzheimer's earlier and more accurately in patients at the earliest sign of memory problems. The article also asserts that this knowledge is "a potential boon to treatment and developing drugs against the disease."

The test, naturally, is very expensive, and i have no idea whether or not insurance and/or Medicare will cover it.

So what say you? If you could know, would you want to? Why or why not?

Here's a video that explains a bit more about this new test.

As it explains, the actual test is a PET Scan that you take after receiving an injection of the new drug. Apparently somehow the drug makes the proteins show up during the scan...

Sounds so very futuristic to me.

And I'm still not sure if I would want to know my diagnosis. Guess the concept is that foreknowledge makes it easier to plan.

Or to know that it's time to start praying for a miracle...

I think I would want to know. Maybe. There are drugs now that help slow the progression of the disease if it's diagnosed early enough. And there's the planning part, too.

I just caught a new report on NBC news this evening. Dr. Nancy Snyderman reported on a French study that shows working longer can reduce the onset of dementia. Another reason we ought to seriously consider postponing retirement age.

Here's a link to the NBC Nightly News report. NOTE: She begins her report with another great new medical finding for women: Daily low dose aspirin can reduce the onset of colon cancer.

Both good news!

And here's more news on diagnosing dementia: Apparently a urinary tract infection can cause odd behavior that mimics early dementia. So nursing home staff and our doctors need to be aware of this.

Click the link for the original discussion I saw on this today.

And here's more I researched online: There were several articles I found on this, I just linked to one. But it's important to realize that depression, some prescription drugs and lung and urinary tract infections can ALL mimic the early symptoms of dementia.

Good to know...

So much more to worry about. I think the more I hear, the more I go crazy!!!