Online test for early signs of Alzheimer’s
The quiz, which is taken online, could help diagnose the condition perhaps years earlier than it might normally be spotted.
Experts believe that delaying the onset of Alzheimer’s by five years could halve the number of people who die from it.
The test is not intended to replace checks with a GP, however, and it is intended that they will continue to be done to check the diagnosis is correct.
The quiz will provide an instant result and could either set people’s minds at rest or encourage them to act sooner than they might have to visit their doctor. It could also help some people who feel a stigma to admitting they are suffering memory problems.
It will also provide guidance on lifestyle and diet which could also slow the development of the condition.
The quiz is called the Cognitive Function Test and was developed by scientists at Oxford University.
There are many tests which can be taken to ascertain evidence of the risk of an individual having Alzheimer’s but this is believed to be the only one which can be taken in private at home.
Scientists discover new way to detect early onset of Alzheimer’s… looking up patient’s noses
A new nose examination could be an easy way of detecting the onset of Alzheimer’s say scientists.
Currently there are no basic tests to diagnose the condition but it is now believed that the nose might be a sensitive indicator of what’s happening in the brain.
A nasal spray which can detect harmful proteins associated with dementia is now being developed by German researchers.
Until now brain scans, which look for changes in the brain have been the only way of diagnosing dementia, often when it has already developed.
But this new method of detection, which could catch the condition in its early stages could be vital in developing more effective treatments.
Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, associated with a decline in mental abilities, such as memory and reasoning.
memory, mood swings, speech problems can be similar to those of other health conditions.
However tests at the Technical University of Darmstadt have revealed that nasal mucous can show whether the damaging tau protein, which kills brain cells, is present in the brain.
Lead researcher Boris Schmidt said: ‘The more tau deposits we found in the noses of patients, the worse the brain structure was hit.’
The test, which is free to take, follows a significant study published last year which credited a vitamin pill with cutting brain shrinkage linked to the disease by up to five times.
The tablet, which costs as little as 10p a day and is made of three vitamin B supplements, was described as the “first glimmer of hope” in the battle to find a drug that slows or stops the development of the disease, for which there is currently no cure.
The study showed the vitamin pill to be most effective when taken early but because people who are apparently healthy have no way of telling if they might benefit, the Oxford research team created the test.
It measures mild cognitive impairment – or the slight memory lapses that can be a precursor to Alzheimer’s – which affects one in six aged over 70, or 1.5million Britons. Half will develop dementia within five years of diagnosis.
Alzheimer’s expert Prof David Smith said: “Alzheimer’s is a preventable disease, not an inevitable part of the ageing process. The trick is to identify any decline in memory function as early as possible and take the necessary prevention steps.”
The Cognitive Function Test has three sections which use computer-based tasks and games to measure different components of memory.
Those who are believed to be at risk of Alzheimer’s are advised to have a blood test, can also be done at home, and given a letter to take to their GP.
However, Professor Smith urges people not to do take the vitamins without speaking to their doctor first. This is because at high doses they may encourage tumour growth and interfere with the treatment of illnesses such as rheumatoid arthritis.
The online test was created for Food for the Brain, a not-for-profit organisation which raises awareness of the links between nutrition and mental health.
Dr Celeste de Jager, the lead developer of the test, said the test was only relevant for those over 50.
Dr Simon Ridley, of Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “Diagnosing dementia in its earliest stages is hugely important. However, an online test is not a diagnosis. Anyone worried about their memory should seek advice from their GP.”
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Daily Mail