If
you don’t read past this first sentence, the best advice I can give you
is to get a diagnosis as early as possible. In my years of experience
as a clinician, I can relay countless stories of people who did not want
to know whether they
or their loved ones had Alzheimer’s disease or something like it.
“What good is it? You can’t cure it anyway.” Justifiable fear and
denial successfully detract people from taking any steps towards
diagnosing and/or treating the problem. I am always saddened
to see the many situations in which families are quickly hurled into
disaster mode: desperate attempts to get legal documents in place and
help for their loved one and themselves. Here are some of the top
1)
Experimental treatments for Alzheimer’s disease are
increasingly aimed at patients in early phases of memory loss.
Prolonging a diagnosis may translate into lost opportunities for
potential treatment interventions.
2)
Some forms of memory impairment are treatable and need to
be caught early to minimize long-term effects. Other forms may be
indicative of a medical or psychological issue in need of intervention.
3)
Delaying diagnosis will not delay the progression of
symptoms. In fact, as symptoms progress more quickly, patients and
families have less and less time to properly plan and get the help and
support they need. Rather than managing symptoms
and situations in a proactive way, families are forced to react to
crisis situations that quickly drain resources and are emotionally
exhausting.
4)
Information is power: a diagnosis does not change what is happening. But it provides an opportunity to make active choices.
If
you are concerned about memory or cognitive impairment, address the
issue as soon as possible. At The Cognitive and Research Center of New
Jersey, we are committed to helping you every step of the way. Contact
us today!
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