Early-onset Alzheimer’s Identified

Early-onset Alzheimer’s disease can be identified by a ‘cognitive reserve’, discovered researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. , and PET-CT examinations can identify the disorder.

Researchers learnt that the ‘cognitive reserve’ inhibited the visible symptoms of early-onset AD, which takes a more aggressive course and progression. Dr. Jacob Richard Hodge, lead researcher for this study, states that with patients with a good background of education, the symptoms manifest themselves late, since the patients are better able to develop coping strategies.

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Using earlier PET-CT examination results, the researchers identified significant abnormalities in patients with early-onset AD. This becomes important in the diagnosis of younger patients as Alzheimer’s dementia is usually not suspected in a younger age group.

The discovery of the "cognitive reserve" will help patients to cope and improve the quality of their lives with a proper diagnosis. “Once the diagnosis is determined, a patient can begin to manage the disease and plan for the future," stated Dr. Hodge who will present the study on May 2, 2011 at the 2011 ARRS Annual Meeting at the Hyatt Regency Chicago.

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Source-Medindia

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