diagnosing alzheimer's disease is serious business

This test is a common method for diagnosing Alzheimer's Disease that tests your ability to do a number of tasks that each of us takes for granted.  But as  the brain function becomes impaired, ordinary tasks become difficult - and we quickly learn to compensate so as not to have the deficiencies interrupt our daily lives.  Still, these are critical functions to successfully caring for ourselves. Which is why the MoCA test is a helpful clue to an astute clinician that signals something is wrong.  Low scores can actually signal other underlying brain or psychological issues, which is why this test should not be delivered by a general practitioner, but instead by a specialist who fully understands how the brain works.  

Your doctor may ask you to undergo more advanced testing to determine the extent and possible origin of your cognitive decline.  And in early - mid stage dementia, this form of testing could uncover a medical explanation for the declines.  But as these tests are long and very involved, if your loved one's dementia is advanced, this test will only serve to frustrate him/her with little gain to the patient's prognosis.  So be sure to discuss the pro's and con's of this form of testing for Alzheimer's Dementia with your healthcare professional.  

BETA-AMYLOID TESTING: In diagnosing Alzheimer's Disease, it is now possible to detect Beta-Amyloid proteins in the CSF fluid.

This is a very invasive testing method that comes with certain risks.  

Identifying Amyloid protein in the CSF indicates that there is an active infection in the brain.  Whether it's due to P. Gingivalis or another organism cannot be determined, but it is a new tool that can help rule out infection as well.  

APOE 4 / APOE 3 TESTING: this blood test can determine whether you have the genes that have been linked to Alzheimer's susceptibility.  This test costs $125.00 to perform.  You can visit Alzheimer's.org to learn more about this test and read more about this risk factor here.  

INFLAMMATORY TESTING: 

• C-reactive protein (CRP) - is a simple blood test that can be done at little expense.  It is an inflammation marker that signals to the clinician that somewhere in the body or brain, an inflammatory process is underway.   

•  erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) - this is another simple blood test that can be done at little expense.  It is also an inflammation marker that signals that somewhere  in the body or brain, an inflammatory process is underway.  Different from the CRP, this test is more sensitive and real time.  Taken together, an elevated CRP and ESR signals there is something causing inflammation that needs to be addressed now.

Apraxia, which affects one's ability to walk, is another diagnosable condition associated with Alzheimer's Dementia. An ataxic gait is characterized by imbalance, and abnormal, uncoordinated movements. Typically the individual can stand, but is very unsteady, taking small irregular steps. Very early in the course of apraxic walking in Alzheimer's Dementia, a cane or a walker can help. It is not uncommon to see a person go from a slow, cautious gait, to a normal walking pattern simply by taking up a cane.   In the early stages, this could indicate an issue with depth perception, but later, as the gate continues to deteriorate, the balance center of the brain - Cerebellum - may be diseased. A Neurologist is very adept at viewing one's gate and determining what might be going on.