An estimated 148,470 people over age 65 in Maryland are living with dementia.
Early detection and diagnosis are important! For many patients and families, there may be misconceptions that the cognitive or behavioral symptoms of dementia are just a normal part of aging. Stigma, shame, and concealing symptoms for fear of others “finding out” are significant barriers to seeking and obtaining a dementia diagnosis.
The AD8 Screening Tool can be found here. A screening test in itself is insufficient to diagnose a dementing disorder. The AD8 is, however, quite sensitive to detecting early cognitive changes associated many common dementing illness including Alzheimer disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia and frontotemporal dementia.
Despite the barriers, there are many benefits to an early diagnosis, such as:
- More time to educate patients and families about dementia and dementia care,
- More time to prepare, plan, and make important decisions about future care,
- Greater opportunities to participate in research studies,
- Ability to adjust and set expectations for patients and caregivers,
- Better disease management, and
- Improvement in overall care and quality of life.
Knowing your risk factors is important too!
Some risk factors can be changed, such as:
- Smoking
- Hearing loss
- Education
- Social isolation
- Physical inactivity
- Chronic conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension, and depression
- Binge drinking
Programs at the Somerset County Health Department can help you decrease your risk for Alzheimer’s and dementia! Contact us today at 443-523-1700.
Click here for our Alzheimer’s and Dementia Resource Guide.