Early detection critical for Alzheimer’s and dementia

June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, and the Alzheimer’s Association is encouraging everyone to take charge of their brain health. While there is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, we know more than ever about brain health, risk reduction and ways to live well with the disease.

Because of this, early detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s is more important than ever, but only half of those with Alzheimer’s disease ever receive a diagnosis. Early detection can offer significant benefits for the person diagnosed and their loved ones, including greater access to treatment options and the ability to plan for the future. In fact, there are treatments available now that can slow disease progression for people in the early stage of Alzheimer’s, and there are many potential treatments advancing in the research pipeline.

The time to increase awareness and build health care system infrastructure for early detection is now. Early detection of cognitive decline provides patients and their families invaluable time to enhance brain protection and manage risk factors that can accelerate cognitive decline.

This perspective is not only from me as a researcher, but also as a daughter. Early diagnosis has been indispensable for my mother, who was identified with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) eight years ago. Noticing warning signs, like difficulty planning, concentrating and taking much longer to complete tasks, was fundamental in seeking a timely evaluation and appropriate intervention. Thanks to early detection, we've encouraged her to engage in active self-care to manage her high blood pressure, practice regular physical activity, adopt strategies to improve sleep quality, enrich her social and cognitive stimulation, and ensure regular medical evaluations. These efforts have allowed her to maintain her independence until now, eight years after her diagnosis.

Recently, she has started to face difficulties managing bills but remains functional and independent in many other daily activities. Without awareness of the warning signs and access to early detection, she would have missed the chance to act to improve her brain health and stay stable for more years than the average.

This experience has given me a new purpose in my professional life as a researcher. I now focus on disseminating information, connecting people to the resources they need to improve their brain health and advocating for everyone who wants to have the opportunity for early evaluation and treatment. Join me and the Alzheimer’s Association in the fight to end Alzheimer’s by taking care of your brain health and visiting your doctor as soon as you notice any warning signs. Visit alz.org/10signs or call (800) 272-3900 to learn more.

Juliana Talarico is a researcher in the field of psychosocial stress and cognitive decline within aging populations. I am also a board member for the Alzheimer's Association Iowa Chapter and Associate Professor at the University of Iowa College of Nursing.