Detecting The Signs Of Alzheimer's Early

(CBS)  Alzheimer's disease affects 5.3 million people in America and is the 7th leading cause of death in the United States, according to the Alzheimer's Association.

In our new series, "Recognizing Alzheimer's," Early Show medical correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton discussed the top three of the Alzheimer's Association's top ten warning signs of the degenerative disease.

"It's unbelievable," Ashton told Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith. "This (disease) is going to affect more and more of the population as we age, and it is important to recognize the warning signs because the earlier they are identified the sooner you can intervene, plan your life and take certain steps to hopefully impact on the treatment."

One of the first warning signs is changes in memory that Ashton says is not just forgetting things now and then, but more noticeable changes.

"The hallmark is short-term memory changes," Ashton said, "things that you should be remembering that you're not, if you have to ask the same question over and over again."

Another sign is having difficulty in planning and solving problems.

Ashton said one of trademark indicators is the inability to balance one's checkbook.

"Every once in a while, it's okay to make a mistake," Ashton said, "but to go to using your fingers or again, you just cannot complete the task -- warning sign number two."

Ashton added that if you see your loved one having difficulty with everyday tasks, you should suggest a formal physical and mental evaluation.

"Don't delay because again, putting our heads in the sand does not help," Ashton said, "and if anything, it can really hurt."

Ashton said statistics show good physicians can accurately diagnose Alzheimer's 90 percent of the time with an exam.

"It really is a head-to-toe exam, because you want to make sure that there are other medical conditions that could give the same memory problems are not at play here." Ashton said.

Smith asked Ashton if new techniques have been developed for detecting the disease.

Ashton said new screening techniques are available, including advanced imaging options like functional MRIs and Positron Emission Tomography (PET)scans.

[mitchny]

I believe Ms. Ashton made a mistake in talking about Alzheimer's this AM on the show....she said that doing mental excersizes can slow the progression of Alzheimer's and I think that is not true per the research I read in the NY Alzheimer s Association newsletter. It also leaves the impression that someone who has Alzheimer's is somehow responsible for having it, like, "Oh, he has Alzheimers because he didn't do crossword puzzles!" of something like that. She needs to check the latest findings before going on TV and saying something inaccurate, it seems to me.

[Liz_Kelly]

Great story. There was a similar story from the perspective of a public radio producer whose father had Alzheimers that ran on <a href="http://www.lcmedia.stores.yahoo.net/infinitemind.html">The Infinite Mind.</a>

[Karen_ICARAStudy]

The best chance we have for fighting Alzheimer?s disease are clinical studies that test new treatments. Patients and families affected by Alzheimer?s may want to consider participating in a clinical study. I?m working with one called the ICARA (Bapi) study (www.icarastudy.com). The goal of the study is to explore if an investigational drug called bapineuzumab can help slow the progression of Alzheimer?s. Participants must be between 50 and 89 years of age and have a diagnosis of mild to moderate Alzheimer?s.