This paper will focus on the importance of early detection in the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and how a patient’s quality of life is impacted by the challenges of this illness in those patients sixty (60) years of age and older. The human society is aging. This is happening in two (2) ways: through shifts in the age structure that will eventually lead to many more individuals reaching older ages than ever before, and through continued success in extending life. Less than one hundred (100) years ago, life expectancy was between thirty (30) to forty (40) years. Currently, close to eight hundred (800) million citizens are aged sixty (60) or older (Vaupel, 2010). Alzheimer’s disease is also ravaging the society and those who fall
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There is evidence that supports significant public interest in early testing for Alzheimer’s disease. In a survey of five (5) countries by the Harvard School of Public Health and Alzheimer Europe, eighty-nine (89) percent of respondents in the United States and ninety-five (95) percent of respondents aged sixty (60) and over said that if they were exhibiting signs of confusion and memory loss, they would see a physician to determine if the cause was Alzheimer’s disease. Sixty-five (65) percent of American respondents also said they would be likely or very likely to get a test for early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s if one were available before they exhibited signs of the disease (Blendon, Benson, Wikler, Weldon, Georges, Baumgart, & Kallmyer, 2012). Of the public input received, many individuals believe that early detection is vital in preparing for a life of living with Alzheimer’s disease. This was especially evident among those with familial history of Alzheimer’s who have already experienced the physical, emotional and financial effects of this disease. Many respondents conveyed their concerns of imposing a significant burden on their loved ones and urgently expressed their desire for early detection to become a routine regular practice during all physician visits (Blendon et al., 2012). The last step in the diagnostic and detection process is documentation of the diagnosis. An individual’s medical record is the primary documentation for all medical history, co-morbidities, therapies, and their outcomes. Health care clinicians look to it to inform care recommendations and next steps. Thus, documenting a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease in a patient’s medical record is a crucial step toward comprehensive
There is evidence that supports significant public interest in early testing for Alzheimer’s disease. In a survey of five (5) countries by the Harvard School of Public Health and Alzheimer Europe, eighty-nine (89) percent of respondents in the United States and ninety-five (95) percent of respondents aged sixty (60) and over said that if they were exhibiting signs of confusion and memory loss, they would see a physician to determine if the cause was Alzheimer’s disease. Sixty-five (65) percent of American respondents also said they would be likely or very likely to get a test for early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s if one were available before they exhibited signs of the disease (Blendon, Benson, Wikler, Weldon, Georges, Baumgart, & Kallmyer, 2012). Of the public input received, many individuals believe that early detection is vital in preparing for a life of living with Alzheimer’s disease. This was especially evident among those with familial history of Alzheimer’s who have already experienced the physical, emotional and financial effects of this disease. Many respondents conveyed their concerns of imposing a significant burden on their loved ones and urgently expressed their desire for early detection to become a routine regular practice during all physician visits (Blendon et al., 2012). The last step in the diagnostic and detection process is documentation of the diagnosis. An individual’s medical record is the primary documentation for all medical history, co-morbidities, therapies, and their outcomes. Health care clinicians look to it to inform care recommendations and next steps. Thus, documenting a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease in a patient’s medical record is a crucial step toward comprehensive