Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common type of
dementia and is prevalent worldwide [1, 2].The risk factor of
AD is aging [3].With an increase of the elderly population as
reported by the UnitedNations [4], it is expected that the AD
population will only grow in the future. Although treatment
for AD has yet to be established, medications such as acetylcholinesterase
inhibitors can delay the progress or improve
symptoms of AD in its early stages and are readily available.
With a projected increase in the AD population and rising
awareness of early intervention measures, early detection has
become an increasingly important issue, generating demand
for screening tests with higher sensitivity.
AD dysfunction is not readily identifiable in the early
stage and is difficult to recognize by patients themselves
or their families and so early consultation with a medical
specialist is all too rare. Moreover, a majority of the world’s
elderly live in developing countries, a trend which is likely
to continue [5], meaning that the greater part of AD patients
will be living in developing countries [6] where there exists a
lack of specialists in dementia.Given this global situation, it is
necessary to come up with ameans to conduct early detection
of AD by a general practitioner (GP), someone in the
community towhompatients have easy access. At present, the
rate of general screening tests conducted by GPs is reported
to be low [7] as too much time and advance training are
required.What is needed then is a simple screening test with
high sensitivity: one that a busy GP can use for early detection
of AD.
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common type ofdementia and is prevalent worldwide [1, 2].The risk factor ofAD is aging [3].With an increase of the elderly population asreported by the UnitedNations [4], it is expected that the ADpopulation will only grow in the future. Although treatmentfor AD has yet to be established, medications such as acetylcholinesteraseinhibitors can delay the progress or improvesymptoms of AD in its early stages and are readily available.With a projected increase in the AD population and risingawareness of early intervention measures, early detection hasbecome an increasingly important issue, generating demandfor screening tests with higher sensitivity.AD dysfunction is not readily identifiable in the earlystage and is difficult to recognize by patients themselvesor their families and so early consultation with a medicalspecialist is all too rare. Moreover, a majority of the world’selderly live in developing countries, a trend which is likelyto continue [5], meaning that the greater part of AD patientswill be living in developing countries [6] where there exists alack of specialists in dementia.Given this global situation, it isnecessary to come up with ameans to conduct early detectionof AD by a general practitioner (GP), someone in thecommunity towhompatients have easy access. At present, therate of general screening tests conducted by GPs is reportedto be low [7] as too much time and advance training arerequired.What is needed then is a simple screening test withhigh sensitivity: one that a busy GP can use for early detectionof AD.
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