Page 140 - The Memory Program How to Prevent Memory Loss and Enhance Memory Power

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uncertainties still remain in using such techniques to make an accurate diagnosis.

The Clinical Picture Is More Important than Lab Tests

Once the initial hype settles down, the same issues tend to limit clinical applicability for all these
tests: lack of specificity for Alzheimer's disease (which means that the same abnormalities are also
seen in other diseases), uncertainty about whether they can be used at the stage of mild cognitive
impairment to predict future Alzheimer's disease, and absence of replication in large-scale studies. If
your doctor orders one of these (or other) tests, keep in mind that an abnormality on one of these
tests does not necessarily mean you have Alzheimer's; the whole clinical picture needs to be taken
into account before any diagnosis is made.

Progression of Alzheimer's Disease versus Age-Related Memory Loss

Alzheimer's disease is characterized by steady, progressive deterioration, with an average decline of
10 to 15 percent annually in memory test scores. Age-related memory loss is a different kettle of
fish, and it is rare to see a decline of more than 1 to 4 percent annually in memory test scores.

Signs of Mild to Moderate (Early to Midstage) Alzheimer's Disease

Frequently forgetting to turn off the stove.
Getting lost when driving to a familiar place.
Repeated mistakes in balancing checkbooks.
Mistakes in executing familiar tasks at work or at home.
Forgetting to get most of what was needed from the grocery store.
Repeating the same phrases or sentences in conversation due to poor memory.

Coming to Terms with the Illness

Family members are often much more aware of the nature and likely course of the illness than the
patient. This is because the dementing