A new report says that over seven million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, and nearly 80% of Americans indicate they would want to know they have the condition before symptoms surface.
Medical advancements are making it easier for people to diagnose the disease before symptoms emerge, potentially helping lessen the stigma, says Dr. Elizabeth Edgerly, senior director for Community Programs and Services for the Alzheimer’s Association.
“For a long time, it was like, ‘Oh, I wouldn’t want to find out.’ And so knowing that people can do more now is making a difference in the stigma,” Edgerly said to Fox News Digital in an interview.
At one point, identifying the disease early required invasive tests like spinal taps and PET scans. However, deciding to undergo the testing was challenging, as cognitive decline can be a natural part of aging, and not necessarily indicative of Alzheimer’s.
“People struggle to try to figure out: Is that normal aging, or something we should get checked out?” said Edgerly.
To make matters worse, the traditional testing process can sometimes take years before a conclusive diagnosis is delivered.
However, a new blood test has made the identification of Alzheimer’s development much easier and more accessible.
The Alzheimer’s Association says the national cost of caring for people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias is forecast to hit $384 billion this year, up $24 billion from 2024. Not only that but almost 12 million family members and friends provide more than 19 billion hours of unpaid care, worth another $413 billion.
“Anyone who has cared for someone or has close friends who have been affected … it’s hard to not want to change that,” said Edgerly.
She says that eating a diet that includes lots of fruits and vegetables appears to have a positive effect on blunting the development of the disease. Exercise and managing high blood pressure are also important, says Edgerly.
In February, The Dallas Express reported on a new study that found aerobic exercise can help protect against the development of the disease. The research, published in Brain Research, found that regular aerobic exercise can reduce Alzheimer’s risk by 76%.