A study published in the May issue of the journal Neurology states that patients with very mild degree of Alzheimer’s disease may be competent to take decisions about their treatments, but those with moderate to severe form of the disease may not remain competent to do so.
The study also points out that people who are aware of their disease and its growth in the mare more likely to take competent decisions about their medical care even if their condition deteriorates. This is especially true for when their conditions are compared with people who have no clue about their disease.Researchers feel this should be the reason why patients or their near ones should consult a doctor the moment the notice or sense the symptoms of the condition in them or their loved ones. Early diagnosis of the disease can make it possible for the patient to participate in the decision making process of his treatment.
Researchers from University of Pennsylvania, US, had used Mini-Mental State Examination, cognitive ability rating scale to help predict the decision-making abilities of 48 patients suffering from mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease.
