A Test Shows Promise at Someday Predicting Dementia
A new test, developed by dementia researchers at the San Francisco VA Medical Center, may eventually help people figure out how likely they are to develop dementia. In a study of 3,000 elderly people presented this week at the 2007 International Conference on Prevention of Dementia, researchers found a "simple" diagnostic test to be accurate 87 percent of the time at predicting an elderly person's six-year risk of developing dementia. The screen includes cognitive testing, a physical examination, and a medical history. The leading risk factors: over 70 years old, already decreased mental and physical functioning, a body mass index below 18, and previous coronary artery bypass surgery. Surprisingly, another leading risk factor was "nonconsumption of alcohol." Dementia can be caused by a variety of medical conditions, including Alzheimer's and stroke.
Lead author Deborah Barnes, a mental health researcher at the medical center, says that more research is needed before the test can be offered to physicians. The fact that not drinking alcohol may put people at risk, for example, came as a surprise and is controversial. But the results are promising, she says, because tools available now can tell only whether or not a person has dementia, not predict risk.
According to the National Center for Neurological Disorders and Stroke, dementia "is not a specific disease" but rather a "descriptive term" for a variety of symptoms caused by neurological illnesses. The symptoms of dementia include memory loss, impaired cognitive functioning, behavioral and personality changes, trouble solving problems, delusions, loss of language skills, and emotional vulnerability. Because it can be caused by so many factors, there's also the risk that dementia can be misdiagnosed. Other medical conditions—infection, adverse reaction to certain drugs, and nutritional or metabolic deficiencies—can masquerade as dementia, so patients and families should check with their doctors to rule out other causes.
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