The FDA approved Monday a new drug to aid in the treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease for the first time in nearly 20 years, a press release submitted by the Aging & Disability Resource Center of Jefferson County announced.
The last time a new drug for the treatment of Alzheimer’s was released was in 2003, Dementia Care Specialist Heather Janes noted in the release.
According to the release: “The FDA-approved treatment slows progression (in a limited population) of MCI (Mild Cognitive Impairment) due to AD (Alzheimer’s Disease) and early Alzheimer’s dementia. It does not stop decline or improve cognition. It represents an important step and progress in Alzheimer’s science.”
The new medication is called Aducanumab.
The release continued: The Alzheimer’s Association will be having a special dialogue regarding the Current Perspectives on Aducanumab on Monday, June 21, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Those interested in attending are invited to register for the event at: https://alz-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ZfIolQwtRNerzmu–1qGxQ.
“This is great news. If interested in learning more about if this medication is right for you, please contact your primary care physician,” Janes said, adding: “This is a day to celebrate!”
10 early signs
Information recently supplied by the Aging & Disability Resource Center of Jefferson County included the following 10 early signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s. They are:
1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life. One of the most common signs of Alzheimer’s disease, especially in the early stage, is forgetting recently learned information. Others include forgetting important dates or events, asking for the same questions over and over, and increasingly needing to rely on memory aids (e.g., reminder notes or electronic devices) or family members for things they used to handle on their own.
What’s a typical age-related change? Sometimes forgetting names or appointments, but remembering them later.
2. Challenges in planning or solving problems. Some people living with dementia may experience changes in their ability to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers. They may have trouble following a familiar recipe or keeping track of monthly bills. They may have difficulty concentrating and take much longer to do things than they did before.
What’s a typical age-related change? Making occasional errors when managing finances or household bills.
3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks. People with Alzheimer’s often find it hard to complete daily tasks. Sometimes they may have trouble driving to a familiar location, organizing a grocery list or remembering the rules of a favorite game.
What’s a typical age-related change? Occasionally needing help to use microwave settings or to record a TV show.
4. Confusion with time or place. People living with Alzheimer’s can lose track of dates, seasons and the passage of time. They may have trouble understanding something if it is not happening immediately. Sometimes they may forget where they are or how they got there.
What’s a typical age-related change? Getting confused about the day of the week but figuring it out later.
5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships. For some people, having vision problems is a sign of Alzheimer’s. This may lead to difficulty with balance or trouble reading. They may also have problems judging distance and determining color or contrast, causing issues with driving.
What’s a typical age-related change? Vision changes related to cataracts.
6. New problems with words in speaking or writing. People living with Alzheimer’s may have trouble following or joining a conversation. They may stop in the middle of a conversation and have no idea how to continue or they may repeat themselves. They may struggle with vocabulary, have trouble naming a familiar object or use the wrong name (e.g., calling a “watch” a “hand-clock”).
What’s a typical age-related change? Sometimes having trouble finding the right word.
7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps. A person living with Alzheimer’s disease may put things in unusual places. They may lose things and be unable to go back over their steps to find them again. He or she may accuse others of stealing, especially as the disease progresses.
What’s a typical age-related change? Misplacing things from time to time and retracing steps to find them.
8. Decreased or poor judgment. Individuals may experience changes in judgment or decision-making. For example, they may use poor judgment when dealing with money or pay less attention to grooming or keeping themselves clean.
What’s a typical age-related change? Making a bad decision or mistake once in a while, like neglecting to change the oil in the car.
9. Withdrawal from work or social activities. A person living with Alzheimer’s disease may experience changes in the ability to hold or follow a conversation. As a result, he or she may withdraw from hobbies, social activities or other engagements. They may have trouble keeping up with a favorite team or activity.
What’s a typical age-related change? Sometimes feeling uninterested in family or social obligations.
10. Changes in mood and personality. Individuals living with Alzheimer’s may experience mood and personality changes. They can become confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful or anxious. They may be easily upset at home, with friends or when out of their comfort zone.
What’s a typical age-related change? Developing very specific ways of doing things and becoming irritable when a routine is disrupted.
Get checked. Early detection matters. If you notice one or more signs in yourself or another person, it can be difficult to know what to do. It’s natural to feel uncertain or nervous about discussing these changes with others. Voicing worries about your own health might make them seem more “real.” Or, you may fear upsetting someone by sharing observations about changes in his or her abilities or behavior. However, these are significant health concerns that should be evaluated by a doctor, and it’s important to take action to figure out what’s going on.
Reference: Alzheimer’s Association https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/10_signs.
Where to find help
• Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Helpline: (800) 272-3900.
• Aging and Disability Resource Center – Walworth County: www.co.walworth.wi.us/adrc, or (262) 741-3400.
• Aging and Disability Resource Center- Jefferson County: www.jeffersoncountywi.gov, or (920) 674-8734.
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