Can Medical Professionals Predict Stages of Cognitive Decline?

Personalized treatments and forecasting for people experiencing cognitive decline are in the works, with the potential to assist those with Alzheimer’s disease.

MedicalNewsToday reported that research conducted at the Amsterdam University Medical Center has resulted in the development of a promising model that may enable healthcare professionals to predict the various stages of cognitive decline in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease.

This innovative tool shows potential in forecasting cognitive decline in individuals experiencing mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or in the early stages of dementia resulting from Alzheimer’s disease.

Here is what MedicalNewsToday’s dive into this promising model found:

A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease is becoming increasingly common. The Alzheimer’s Association reports that one in three seniors in the United States will die with Alzheimer’s or another dementia.

Some memory decline is a normal part of aging, but problems with memory and thinking that start to impact daily functioning are often a sign of mild cognitive impairment (MCI)Trusted Source.

In some people, MCI can develop into dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease, but it is hard to predict whether a person with MCI will go on to develop dementia.

Katherine Gray, Head of Research at Alzheimer’s Society, told Medical News Today that: “Among the almost a million people living with dementia in the [United Kingdom], we know that no two people have the same journey. Symptoms often progress at different rates and the availability and standard of dementia care across the UK can vary extensively.”

Now, a team from Amsterdam University Medical Center has developed a model that can predict cognitive decline in people with MCI or mild dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease. The study appears in the journal Neurology.

Wiesje van der Flier, PhD, full professor, scientific director of Amsterdam UMC’s Alzheimer Centre, and senior author on the study, told MNT that the model might one day be used to tailor Alzheimer’s care for individual patients.