Are You At Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease?

• Francois Lubbe


• 12 Jun 2012

According to the Alzheimer’s Disease Society there are just under a million people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease (AD), in the UK. The condition causes severe memory problems, and affects the sufferer’s ability to understand, communicate and reason effectively. AD is a progressive disease and while certain treatments can help, there is no cure for the condition.

So far, mainstream medicine has only been able to partially treat Alzheimer’s disease or, at the very least, alleviate some of the symptoms and progression of the condition. However, many of the available drugs like Donepezil (Aricept) and Rivastigmine (Exelon), can cause harmful side effects, which include tiredness, loss of sleep, dizziness, abdominal pain and, ironically, mental confusion.

No single factor has yet been identified as a cause for Alzheimer’s disease. It is likely that a combination of factors, including age, genetic inheritance, environmental factors, lifestyle and overall general health, are involved. In some people, the disease may develop silently for many years before symptoms appear, which is why it is important to identify AD symptoms in their early stages.

21 Questions

Researchers at the Banner Sun Health Research Institute, in the US, which specialises in AD, say that up to 15 per cent of people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) develop Alzheimer’s within the next year. The researchers have developed a quick test that can help you determine whether you or a loved one is at risk of developing AD.

The Alzheimer’s Questionnaire measures MCI ?? the slight memory lapses that can be a precursor of AD – and it’s almost 90 per cent accurate. The questions should be answered with a simple
‘Yes’ or ‘No’ by a spouse or close friend. A ‘Yes’ is given a score of one or two and a ‘No’ always scores zero, giving a maximum possible score of 27.

The Questionnaire

1. Does your loved one have memory loss?
Yes (1)/No (0)

2. If ‘Yes’, is their memory worse than a few years ago?
Yes
(1)/No (0)

3. Do they repeat questions, statements or stories in the
same day?
Yes (2)/No (0)

4. Have you had to take over tracking events or appointments, or does your loved one forget appointments?

Yes (1)/No (0)

5. Do they misplace items more than once a month?
Yes (1)/No (0)

6. Do they suspect others of hiding or stealing items when they cannot find them?
Yes (1)/No (0)

7. Does your loved one frequently have trouble knowing the day, date, month, year and time; or check the date more than once a day?
Yes (2)/No (0)

8. Do they become disorientated in unfamiliar places?
Yes (1)/No (0)

9. Do they become more confused when not at home or when travelling?
Yes (1)/No (0)

10. Excluding physical limitations, do they have trouble handling money such as when calculating change?

Yes (1)/No (0)

11. Do they have trouble paying bills or doing finances?
Yes (2)/No (0)

12. Does your loved one have trouble remembering to take medicine or keeping track of medications taken?
Yes (1)/No (0)

13. Are they having difficulty driving; or are you concerned about their driving?
Yes (1)/No (0)

14. Are they having trouble using appliances such as the stove, phone, remote control, microwave?
Yes (1)/No (0)

15. Excluding physical limitations, are they having difficulty in completing home repair or housekeeping tasks?
Yes (1)/No (0)

16. Excluding physical limitations, have they given up or cut down on doing hobbies such as, playing golf, dancing, exercising or crafts?
Yes (1)/No (0)

17. Are they getting lost in familiar surroundings, such as their own neighbourhood?
Yes (2)/No (0)

18. Is their sense of direction failing?
Yes (1)/No (0)

19. Do they have trouble finding words other than names?
Yes (1)/No (0)

20. Do they confuse names of family members or friends?
Yes (2)/No (0)

21. Do they have trouble recognising familiar people?

Yes (2)/No (0)

Once the questionnaire is completed, you calculate the score.

Someone who scores under five is advised that there is no cause for concern. A score of five to 14 suggests mild cognitive impairment ?? or memory lapses that could be the early stages of Alzheimer’s. A score higher than 14, possibly indicates that the person may already have AD.

Writing in the journal BMC Geriatrics, researcher Michael Malek-Ahmadi stressed that it is up to doctors rather than patients to interpret the results of the test. However, he advised that anyone who scores five or above should seek expert help.

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Disclaimer: Bear in mind the material contained in this article is provided for information purposes only. We are not addressing anyone’s personal situation. Please consult with your own physician before acting on any recommendations contained herein.

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Sources:

Take the Alzheimer’s test: The 21 questions that can reveal if YOU are at risk, published online 02.02.12, dailymail.co.uk