早期診断の意義

行動の変化に気付いたときや、いままで簡単だった仕事、趣味、作業に苦労するようになったときは、注意すべきであると言えます1,2。少し様子をみてみようと思ったり、年を取ったから起こることだろうと軽く考えることはありがちです。

同様に、そのような状態を受け入れるには、付箋を重ねるなどの対策や、スマホなどのリマインダー機能、配偶者や家族の手助けに頼る方が、簡単だと思うかもしれません2

しかし、最善の行動は、ご自分に起こっているであろうことを理解し、それを医師に話しておこうとすることである、と認識するようにしてください3。可能な限り早く正確な診断を受けることで、時間という最も貴重な財産が得られ、その時間を、学ぶことや現状に慣れることや将来の計画にあてることができるようになるのです3


  1. Alzheimer's Association. What Is Alzheimer's? Available at http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_what_is_alzheimers.asp. Accessed August 8, 2016.
  2. Alzheimer's Association. Know The 10 Signs. Available at http://alz.org/10-signs-symptoms-alzheimers-dementia.asp. Accessed August 8, 2016.
  3. Alzheimer's Association. Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia. Available at http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_diagnosis.asp. Accessed August 8, 2016.
  4. National Institute of Health. National Institute on Aging. About Alzheimer's Disease: Symptoms. https://www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers/topics/symptoms. Accessed August 8, 2016.
  5. National Institute of Health. National Institute on Aging. About Alzheimer's Disease: Alzheimer's Basics. Available at https://www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers/topics/alzheimers-basics. Accessed August 8, 2016.
  6. National Institute of Health. National Institute on Aging. Alzheimer's Disease: Unraveling the Mystery. Available at https://www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers/publication/part-2-what-happens-brain-ad/changing-brain-ad#other-early-signs. Accessed August 8, 2016.
  7. Alzheimer's Association. What We Know Today About Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia. Available at http://www.alz.org/research/science/alzheimers_research.asp. Accessed August 8, 2016.
  8. Alzheimer's Association. Stages of Alzheimer's. Available at http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_stages_of_alzheimers.asp. Accessed August 8, 2016.
  9. Johns Hopkins Medicine. Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease. Available at http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/conditions/nervous_system_disorders/early-onset_alzheimers_disease_134,63/.  Accessed August 8, 2016.
  10. Alzheimer's Association. Alzheimer’s Myths. Available at http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_myths_about_alzheimers.asp. Accessed August 8, 2016.
  11. Alzheimer's Association. Alzheimer's Disease Clinical Trials – Myths vs. Facts. Available at http://www.alz.org/research/clinical_trials/myth_vs_fact.asp. Accessed August 8, 2016.
  12. Alzheimer's Association. Current Treatments. http://www.alz.org/research/science/alzheimers_disease_treatments.asp. Accessed August 8, 2016.