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New Scan Can ‘Predict cognitive decline’

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A study – presented at the AHA Scientific Sessions conference in Chicago – claims that a five-minute scan could be used to spot people at risk of dementia before symptoms appear.

Using ultrasound scanners, scientists looked at blood vessels in the necks of more than 3,000 people and monitored them over 15 years.

They found those with the most intense pulses went on to experience greater cognitive decline over the next decade than the other study participants.

Cognitive decline is often one of the first signs of dementia, but not everyone with it go on to develop the condition.

Researchers hope it may offer a new way to predict cognitive decline.

Evidence suggests that controlling blood pressure and cholesterol, having a healthy diet, doing regular exercise and not smoking can all help to stave off dementia.

Read more about the article here

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What are the early signs of dementia?

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850,000 people in the UK have dementia (according to the Alzheimer’s Society), with one in six aged over 80. Although there is no cure, early diagnosis can help ease the symptoms, which include behavioral changes and memory loss.

The symptoms can be divided into three main stages. It can take years to progress from mild to serious, and each person will develop them at a different rate.

The NHS state that the most common early symptoms are memory lapses including:

  • Forgetting place or object names
  • Forgetting recent conversations
  • Regular repetition or asking the same question several times
  • Poor judgement and finding it tough to make decisions
  • Forgetting events or whereabouts of household items
  • Becoming less flexible or resistant to trying new things

There may also be mood changes, increased anxiety or confusion.

As the disease develops from the early stage, memory deteriorates further, with names of loved ones harder to recall. Even recognising friends and family can become difficult.

For more details, go to alzheimers.org.uk

For more information about how we help people and relatives of those suffering from dementia, please see our main site: https://www.deckchaircare.co.uk