The course of AD varies from person to person. It has been known to last as long as 25 years. As the disease progresses, more troubling symptoms begin to appear. People with AD may forget how to do the simplest of tasks. Activities of daily living (ADLS) become harder or even impossible for them to do. Brushing teeth or combing hair, these simple skills, become impossible for the afflicted person to do or even comprehend.
A physician, in order to make the most accurate diagnosis, follows specific guidelines when examining a patient suspected of having Alzheimer's.
A Differential Diagnosis is a "diagnosis based on a comparison of two or more similar diseases to determine which the patient is suffering from." The accuracy of a differential diagnosis in Alzheimer's has risen to 90%.
The physician must examine, compile a comrehensive history and perform a battery of tests to rule out any other illness such as Vascular Dementia. There are many dementing illnesses that may resemble AD.
An elderly person may exhibit what is thought to be AD, but in fact may have an infection, or may be over-medicated or misusing medications.
At this time, the only definitive way to positively confirm Alzheimer's is to autopsy the brain after death.
We must never jump to the conclusion that we or a loved one has Alzheimer's. The occasional lapse in memory is just that.
If you think you or a loved one may have AD, please contact a physician.
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