Cognitive Impairment Indicative of Later Dementia can be Detected Early
Researchers here present epidemiological evidence from a large population database to suggest that measurable cognitive decline occurs quite early in the progression towards dementia, years before diagnosis. Thus better screening could open the door for widespread use of existing preventative interventions and the development of new and better preventative interventions. Prevention is almost always an easier prospect than effective treatment of later stage disease, and something to be encouraged.
Neurodegenerative diseases present a significant health, social, and economic burden. Disease-modifying therapies and effective preventive strategies are lacking. Treatment trials are typically conducted after symptoms have emerged, which may be too late in the disease process to alter its course. Understanding the earliest, pre-diagnostic phase in neurodegenerative disease could open opportunities for more effective preventive and treatment trials.
We use UK Biobank data demonstrate cognitive and functional antecedents of several idiopathic neurodegenerative syndromes in the years prior to diagnosis. In line with findings of pre-symptomatic cognitive decline in familial mutation carriers of Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia, these changes were identified at a baseline assessment averaging 5 to 9 years before diagnosis. The pre-diagnostic linear decline in a number of measures supports our supposition that these changes represent early progressive neurodegeneration rather than a low cognitive or functional baseline.
What preventative interventions? Haven't heard of anything.