Testing the Alzheimer’s test
There are many questions about who will develop Alzheimer’s disease and why. Nearly two-thirds of people with Alzheimer’s are women, and older Black Americans are nearly two times as likely to suffer from the disease as White Americans. These disparities raise questions about what places these groups at risk and how to better protect people.
million Americans live with Alzheimer's.
billion dollars spent per year on care for those living with Alzheimer's.
About Alzheimer’s testing
Traditionally, Alzheimer’s risk is measured through pencil-and-paper tests that are conducted at doctors’ offices or other clinical settings. Research has shown that many older Black Americans are reluctant to visit doctors’ offices for a variety of reasons, ranging from transportation problems to fear of discrimination. Gamaldo and her collaborators tested how comfortable Black adults are with existing online assessments that can measure Alzheimer’s risk.
Online assessments can be administered in a wider variety of settings outside of traditional doctor’s offices, including at senior care facilities. Also, the assessments incorporate game-like experiences that appeal to some users. The traditional test and the online test are administered by professionals, and both have been demonstrated to accurately predict the development of Alzheimer’s.
The researchers found that a higher percentage of older Black adults preferred the online test to the traditional paper-and-pencil version. More participants also reported that the online test was easier to use. Online tests may be a promising tool for understanding and monitoring the cognitive abilities of older Black adults.
Author
Aaron
Wagner
Why should I be tested?
Testing for Alzheimer’s may be unappealing for people who, if they are going to suffer cognitive decline, would rather not worry about it before it happens. Gamaldo, however, says that everyone should be screened for cognitive problems as they age.
“Testing is extremely valuable,” Gamaldo stated emphatically. “If you are aware of your diagnosis, there are resources that can maintain your quality of life for longer. For example, as some individuals progress along the course of their disease, they develop functional limitations that can bring an end to their ability to live independently. Healthcare providers can suggest treatments and resources that can assist in maintaining functioning and allow you to live independently for longer. Additionally, there are complicated financial questions that need to be decided while people’s minds are still functioning at a high level.”
Gamaldo explained that the benefits of testing and early diagnosis extend beyond the person with Alzheimer’s to their caregivers and loved ones. Diagnosis allows caregivers to understand how their loved one will change next and how to adjust care when changes occur.
“Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s is already emotionally, physically, and mentally demanding,” said Gamaldo. “I think most people want their caretakers to have the best tools available to them, and this is only possible when people are diagnosed.”
Additionally, Gamaldo pointed out that, though there is no cure for the disease now, a cure may be available in the future. If people want to be available for trials of new therapies or drugs, they must be properly diagnosed in order to volunteer.
Advances in treatment
Implications for everyone
Testing is vital to long-term health regardless of a person’s race, but Gamaldo says that research to understand disparities in Alzheimer’s rates benefits everyone. As the triggers for Alzheimer’s in specific groups are understood, the same triggers can be examined in other groups. Understanding why Black adults are more likely to suffer from Alzheimer’s may help researchers uncover why women, Latinx Americans, people with lower incomes, and people who live in rural areas all experience higher rates of the disease.
Two messages for everyone
Get tested and monitor your cognitive functioning as you age.
Get Tested
Contact your primary care physician’s office to get information about testing. Testing helps you and your family.
Monitor your Cognitive Functioning
No one knows how your mind is working better than you. Pay attention to any differences in your memory or ability to function.
“It’s so important to monitor your mental abilities,” Gamaldo said. “One of the main reasons my collaborators and I started this project was to remind people that it is okay to monitor yourself. Just like people are encouraged to monitor their physical activity and exercise, the same applies to their brains.
“I hope that—as a society—we can be more appreciative that monitoring our cognitive functioning is important and not something to shy away from. Then, when things are changing, let’s go to our health care providers and figure out why. It may or may not be Alzheimer’s. Whatever it is, if you face it head on, you will be more successful in managing it.”
To help people monitor their cognitive function, Gamaldo is committed to expanding the set of tools available to measure and understand it. She knows that there is no one-size-fits-all solution, and she believes that better understanding of cognitive functioning will help older adults live healthier, more independent lives.
Gamaldo’s recent publication on Alzheimer’s testing received a Silver Innovative Research on Aging Award from the Mather Institute. Angela Sardina of University of North Carolina Wilmington and Shyuan Ching Tan, a graduate student in human development and family studies at Penn State, contributed to this research.
Photo Credits
Top photo of man and tablet: Credit michaeljung via Getty Images
Background photo of woman looking at photos: Credit Gabriele Rohde via Adobe Stock
Slider photo left: Credit Sam Edwards via Getty Images
Slider photo right: Credit bojanstory via Getty Images
Citations
Infographic statistics from the Alzheimer’s Association.
Author
Aaron Wagner
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