Number of People With Alzheimer's Could Triple Soon

Medical experts have proposed major changes in the diagnostic guidelines for Alzheimer's disease, in the hope of early detection, diagnosis and treatment. The new guidelines define three stages of the disease: preclinical disease, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and Alzheimer's dementia. New advances in "biomarker" testing have made detection and diagnosis possible at an earlier stage than ever before. Biomarker tests include brain scans and spinal taps that can reveal brain changes indicating Alzheimer's disease. One of the newest tests, called a PET scan, can show plaque - a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease - in the living brain.

The tests and guidelines, once approved and formalized, will likely lead to routine testing of people in their 50s to find Alzheimer's at an early stage. The new guidelines will encourage more testing, which will lead, of course, to more people diagnosed with Alzheimer's, as the tests can detect earlier stages of the disease. Medical experts expect the number of people diagnosed with preclinical, MCI and Alzheimer's could triple in the next few years as the tests become more widely available. The new biomarker tests are expensive, and insurance companies may try to limit their use to those at most risk, such as those with a genetic risk or after a doctor has diagnosed MCI.

There is currently no cure for Alzheimer's, nor are there prescription drugs to manage the disease. So there is the danger of testing being over-prescribed by doctors who fear the liability risk of not ordering the test, or by patients demanding the test. As Dr. David Katz points out, "You only go looking for trouble you can do something about. You screen when finding a disease or risk factor early on allows you reliably to change outcomes for the better."Another risk of the new tests is overexposure to unnecessary radiation. The PET and CT sacs can expose patients to excessive radiation that can cause new cancers due to DNA mutation. Epidemiologists estimate as many as 29,000 new cancers could be related to the millions of scans performed each year.

In a perfect world, these new tests would encourage drug manufacturers to develop drugs that can treat Alzheimer's disease if diagnosed in the early stages. Many of these drugs are in the research pipeline today. While we wait, it's up to you and I to do our part to prevent this devastating disease by living healthy. As Dr. David Katz said, "Alzheimer's is overwhelmingly a condition of vascular decline. Keep your blood vessels healthy... by eating well, being active and not smoking... and you reduce your risk of dementia, along with that of heart disease and stroke."

To learn more about preventing Alzheimer's, visit http://alzheimerspreventiondigest.com

Craig Wallin is the editor of the Alzheimer's Prevention Digest, a free resource to help you improve your memory, stop brain aging and develop your own personal "Alzheimer's Prevention Program." To learn more, visit: http://alzheimerspreventiondigest.com

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Information Regarding Seizures In Dogs And What They Could Mean

Seizures, also known as fits, are episodes of excessive and abnormal neurological activity that take place in the brain. In humans, the fits can have a number of different effects from loss of awareness and fainting to uncontrollable thrashing and muscle spasms. Seizures in dogs occur in a very similar manner and can be caused by a number of things. However, due to the unspecific and numerous symptoms of the fits they can be understandably difficult to notice in a canine so it is crucial that owners ensure their dogs are seen by a vet after exhibiting any and all odd behaviors.

Just as with human patients who suffer from seizures, canines with recurring convulsions and blackouts are often diagnosed with epilepsy. However not all dogs who suffer from seizures are epileptic. Only one to two percent of dogs will experience a seizure during its lifetime and roughly half of that number actually have epilepsy. It is still important, however, to ensure your pet receives medical treatment immediately.

Signs of a pet's impending seizures can include periods of whining or growling. The dog may appear to be frightened or stressed and attempt to receive comfort from its owner. Other signs include trouble urinating, pacing, and shaking. Once the animal has progressed into an epileptic fit, it may pass out, become uncontrollably agitated, begin convulsing, or appear to be in an altered state of mind.

A number of different factors can cause seizures in dogs as well as influence the likelihood of future ones. These include the dog's age, genetic history, and breed. The type of fit a canine experiences can usually accurately predict the type and severity of subsequent attacks.

Because seizures are a brain disorder, any sign of one that you witness in your pet should be taken very seriously. An appointment should be made immediately with your vet who will likely run a battery of tests on your dog, depending on its age. If your dog is ten years or older you should be prepared to hear that managing the pain, rather than treating it, is your best option.

In most cases the exam will consist of blood pressure tests, blood work, X-rays, CT-scans, and vision checks. And despite the numerous types of epileptic episodes, the symptoms are usually very similar. In most cases, the tests and lab work will reveal either tachycardia, kidney failure, low blood pressure, swelling of the brain, infectious disease, or a weak pulse is present.

It is very important to remember that just because your beloved pet has received a diagnosis of neurological fits doesn't necessarily mean it will die. With proper care and treatment, most forms of epileptic seizures are fairly manageable. In fact, the sooner that the condition is diagnosed, the better the prognosis will be.

Make sure to consult your veterinarian the moment you begin noticing any new behavior in your pet as he or she will have the tools and the information needed to come up with the best possible course of action.

I have more information about seizures in dogs at my Website. You may also be interested in reading my article on stages of seizures in dogs.

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