Dementia diagnosis? Don't assume the worst
If I had to name the single-greatest fear my patients face as they age, it's cognitive decline. For my patients who have been diagnosed with early-onset dementia, it's a constant struggle to keep them from thinking the worse.
If you have been diagnosed with early-onset dementia, it doesn't necessarily mean you have Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's is actually a diagnosis that occurs much more rarely in younger patients.
New research has found that early-onset dementia, characterized as occurring in patients 65 years and younger, can be caused by other disease processes. In particular, researchers have discovered a link—especially for those under the age of 45—with diseases such as multiple sclerosis, lupus and Huntington's. These diseases fall under either the classification of autoimmune disorders or neurodegenerative diseases.
The trick is for doctors to recognize the difference between early-onset dementia and Alzheimer's disease, so that you'll get the correct diagnosis and also the proper treatment. Researchers are working to find disease markers for the early- onset variety to help distinguish it from the more debilitating Alzheimer's.
The good news about early-onset dementia is that it responds to treatment of the underlying disease process. So, if you have multiple sclerosis and are successful in sending it into remission, the problems you may be experiencing with cognition could also potentially evaporate.
You can just imagine the implications this could have for Alzheimer's patients one day, once the whole idea of remission is better understood. But in the meantime, if you do suffer from one of these types of disorders, it's all the more important to work closely with your doctor in treating your condition. While there's currently no cure for diseases like lupus and multiple sclerosis, the promise of sending them into remission is at least something to strive for.
It's especially important for you to lead a healthy lifestyle that includes nourishing your body with the freshest whole foods available. One study found that a diet high in linoleic acid, part of the omega-6 fatty acids and found in plant oils such as sunflower seed oil, was beneficial for patients with multiple sclerosis. Borage oil and black currant seed oil are also rich in linoleic acid. Both can be found in health food shops.
