A study done by the University of Kansa suggests that failing memory may not be the first signal for the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Their research showed that a decline in thinking and learning skills may be warning signs years before a diagnosis, it is thought that spatial skills, those used for completing jigsaws are the first to fail.
This research holds the key as current drugs are more likely to have a significant impact if given when the disease is still in its early stages. It is thought that approximately 700,000 people in the UK have dementia, with levels expected to soar in coming years as the population ages.
If techniques can be developed in order to detect the disease when it’s in the early stages, it can dramatically improve the quality of life for those who suffer from dementia and those who care for them. However, there is still the potential for it to have a negative impact as some people may become depressed and could also potentially be misdisagnosed. In some cases ignorance is bliss.