1. If there is no cure for Alzheimer's Disease, what is the advantage of early diagnosis?
2. Should I tell the person with dementia about the diagnosis?
3. Who can get Alzheimer's Disease?
4. What are my risks of getting Alzheimer's? Is it inherited?
5. What kind of medication and treatment is given to AD patients?

If there is no cure for Alzheimer's Disease, what is the advantage of early diagnosis?

Early diagnosis helps the patient to settle his legal and financial affairs. In addition, there are certain medicines available today which help retard the progress of the disease if given during early stages. The patient is able to have a better quality of life for a longer period.

Should I tell the person with Alzheimer's about the diagnosis?

Most of the patients already know that something is wrong. The diagnosis of AD can come as a relief as they now know what is causing the problem. Early diagnosis and medication can enhance quality of life. Knowing about the condition can also help in planning for the future besides allowing an honest and open discussion of the experience of AD between family and friends.

Who can get Alzheimer's Disease?

At the current stage of knowledge, it is not possible to predict as to who will get this dreaded disease. It can strike anyone irrespective of gender, caste, creed, culture or socioeconomic status.

What are my risks of getting Alzheimer's? Is it inherited?

A large amount of time and money is spent worldwide to find out why certain people get AD. The focus is on the factors that increase the risk of anyone getting AD. The first identified factor, is of course, increasing age. The risk of getting AD increases exponentially with age. However, it does not mean that everyone living beyond a certain age will get it. The other risk factor that everyone is worried about is whether one can inherit this disease. The risk of inheritance on a genetic basis is extremely small.

What kind of medication and treatment is given to AD patients?

Until scientists understand the cause of AD, a cure will continue to elude us. Although great strides has been made in this field, there is still no effective treatment for this illness. The currently approved drugs for treating AD are only minimally effective in relieving some of the symptoms in only a small percentage of the patients, and that too, when medication has been started in the early stages.