A new scoring test to determine who is most at risk of developing memory problems will help doctors spot the signs of dementia, scientists said today.
The new tool is aimed at dementia of the debilitating condition, which currently affects more than 47 million people across the world. By 2030, the World Health Organisation predicts that number will spiral to 75 million. But researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota hope their research will help identify those most at risk, to help doctors intervene with potentially preventative treatments. Study author Ronald Petersen, from the Clinic’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centre, said: ‘Our goal is to identify people who are at the highest risk for dementia as early as possible.
‘Early detection of individuals at high risk of developing memory and thinking problems that we call mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is crucial because people with MCI are at a greater risk of developing dementia. ‘This allows for a wider window of opportunity to initiate preventative measures.’
Click on the link to read, and take the memory test
While forgetting what you went upstairs for is and taking a few minutes to recall where you parked your car is no cause for concern, if you can’t remember your grandchild’s name but can recall childhood memories, you should visit your GP, experts say
Filed under: Dementia, Elderly, Uncategorized, Dementia, Early detection, memory problems
