While treating seniors on travel nursing jobs, you may find that some individuals express symptoms of early Alzheimer's. While this common form of dementia cannot currently be cured, medical advancements are making it easier to detect. This is important for patients, as preventative measures may delay the onset of the mental disease. One such update in the healthcare industry is a blood test that may be able to forsee Alzheimer's in the near future.
Discovery of blood testing
Researchers from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Georgetown University Medical Center conducted a study by drawing blood from hundreds of healthy seniors. Five years later, the authors of the study found that 28 of the participants had developed Alzheimer's or mild cognitive problems. When looking at these blood samples specifically, 10 lipid levels were lower in those with the disease, setting the dementia patients apart from their healthy counterparts. To further confirm their findings, the investigators turned to 54 other Alzheimer's sufferers. These individuals also had low levels of the same fats.
The lead author noted to CNN that they were surprised to have been looking in the right place. From here, it will be up to patients to get the blood tests once they become available. However, this is a very personal decision to be made and, depending on the results, patients and their families may require counseling following the diagnosis.
The future of dementia
According to the World Health Organization, there are more than 35.5 million people currently living with dementia worldwide. As the baby boomer generation continues living longer, this number is expected to double by 2030. Furthermore, an estimated 115.4 million individuals worldwide are likely to have the disease by 2050. While these numbers may be shocking, they reveal an urgent need for greater awareness and more research regarding Alzheimer's and other forms of mental decline. Through early diagnosis, some patients may be able to delay the onset, and hopefully a cure is not too far around the corner.
So, what can you do to help support the fight against dementia? Keeping up to date with the latest breaking news and technology related to the disease will make you a go-to source for patients and colleagues. As a travel nurse, you can share the information you've collected with others, if nothing more than as a way to raise awareness of the issue.