Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most puzzling and damaging diseases that affects people. Put simply, the ailment destroys brain tissue. It can be a basis of a disability claim, as the evidence mounts. Within a matter of years, a person can go from a state of strong mental health to experiencing severe cognitive deficiencies. Of course, this disease is devastating for those with the condition and their loved ones.
According to a report published by the Chicago Tribune, medical professionals and researchers are often frustrated by the fact that there’s no reliable test to detect Alzheimer’s disease precursors or while it’s in the early stages. Without these diagnostic tools available, developing and administering treatment can be difficult.
As individuals deal with the symptoms of Alzheimer’s, they will have to make many life adjustments. Securing income can be difficult. For those who rely on a job to make ends meet, being rendered unable to work can create serious challenges. If it becomes necessary to leave a job, it may be possible to apply for Social Security disability benefits.
In positive news, researchers recently completed a study that could provide some promise in detecting Alzheimer’s. The study found that people who developed the condition lacked 10 different molecules in their blood, at least three years before they began experiencing symptoms of the disease.
Caution is being exercised over the results of this study, because it’s not definitive. At this point, researchers do not understand the connection between Alzheimer’s and the molecules that were missing from the patients’ blood. Regardless, this kind of test could eventually prove helpful in preparing for and treating the condition. Further research is being funded to study abnormal proteins, known as amyloid plaques, revealed by brain scans, in people who are are exhibiting subtle cognitive problems, typically reported in people years before they are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.