Alzheimer's disease, usually associated with old age, can also affect younger people, although rare. Paris-Saclay University conducted a study to compare the medical course of Alzheimers in younger patients (under 63 years) to older patients (over 65 years). The goal? Get a deeper insight into the symptoms at the early stage, as the rate of decline in younger people is often alarming.
Symptoms: More than Memory Loss
The results were remarkable: compared to older patients younger patients experienced significantly less memory problems (38% compared with 87%). However, the impact on information processing, behaviour, language and visual-spatial skills was significantly greater.
Confusion with Burn-out: A trap
A worrying finding was that one third of these symptoms are often wrongly attributed to burn-out or related conditions. In 26% of the cases, patients are even referred to psychological treatment, which further delays the diagnosis of Alzheimer's. The reason for this confusion? Researchers point to differences in the location of brain lesions, with specific attention to temporal cortex in younger patients.
Importance of Awareness with Doctors
The crucial question that arises is: how can doctors recognise these atypical symptoms in time? The answer lies in consciousness. Doctors should be alert to abnormal symptoms because they point to a different location of brain injuries. Disabling these atypical signs is essential to enable rapid and accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.
Conclusion: Early Recognition for Effective Treatment
In the light of these findings, it is clear that early recognition of Alzheimer's symptoms, especially in younger patients, is crucial. Knowledge of different symptoms allows doctors to diagnose correctly and start treatment before the disease is advanced. Increasing awareness around these atypical presentations of Alz Parkinson's disease is a step in the right direction for an effective approach to this profound disease.
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