Although many physicians are not convinced that Alzheimer's disease can be prevented, the majority believe it's possible to slow the progression of the disease by modifying risk factors, according to the results of a new survey.
It's not surprising that doctors are diagnosing more and more cases of Alzheimer's given the country's aging population, as most cases are diagnosed in people age 65 and older, Michael W. Smith, M.D., medical director and chief medical editor at WebMD, said in an interview Monday with FiercePracticeManagement.
Medscape and WebMD just released the results of their survey that looked at both patient and physician attitudes about Alzheimer's, a disease that will likely continue its dramatic increase in future years. The survey of slightly more than 400 doctors included primary care physicians, neurologists, psychiatrists and geriatricians. Less than a third of the doctors surveyed (29 percent) believe that anything can be done to prevent Alzheimer's disease.
While there's no definitive test for Alzheimer's disease, physicians are using tests to rule out other causes of cognitive problems, Smith said. And while there's no cure for Alzheimer's, a significant majority of doctors (77 percent) are confident that it is possible to slow the progress of the disease, the survey found.
Physicians who have a patient or their family member report problems with memory loss, shouldn't shrug off that concern as just a normal part of the patient getting older. "Memory loss is not a normal process of aging," Smith told FiercePracticeManagement. Physicians need to investigate to determine the cause of that cognitive decline.
And physicians are talking to their patients about what is good news: there are factors that can lower their risk for developing Alzheimer's, Smith said. Those include stopping smoking, controlling high blood pressure and blood sugar exercising, controlling weight and increasing mental stimulation. Those lifestyle changes are also recommended for those already diagnosed with Alzheimer's.
The survey found many people aren't worried about developing Alzheimer's because they say they lead a healthy lifestyle, Smith said. Physicians would be wise to educate their patients about what exactly constitutes a healthy lifestyle, since two-thirds of Americans are overweight and even more meet the criteria for obesity--and weight is a significant risk factor for Alzheimer's, he said.
And, as FiercePracticeManagement previously reported, physicians should not be reluctant to tell patients about an Alzheimer's diagnosis as it can often be a relief for them to know why they are experiencing cognitive problems. An Alzheimer's Association report last year said doctors often avoid giving seniors the diagnosis because they believe it is such devastating news.
To learn more:
- check out the study results