Back on the 1980s when the term Alzheimer’s came become popularly known, it was common for doctors to diagnose patients as having Alzheimer’s when there was really no way to be sure.

There are other conditions with similar symptoms. Some of those conditions and diseases are life-threatening, and some of them are treatable.

As Alzheimer’s became more widely known, more and more people were (rightly or wrongly) diagnosed with it. Many others became fearful of getting it, especially if they had a close family member who had been diagnosed as having Alzheimer’s.

Nowadays a bit more is known about Alzheimer’s. Most doctors are not quite so quick to label patients with it. There are more and better tests. And there are actually some treatments that help Alzheimer’s patients greatly by slowing or stopping the progress of the disease. Read the rest of this entry »