CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Both June and November are recognized for Alzheimer’s Awareness, symbolizing the changing solstices and the light families continue to seek through the disease.
News 12 spoke with a local neurologist who says newer treatments are now using tests we’ve had for years, advancing the way doctors approach this condition.
Dr. Berneet Kaur, MD, with Erlanger Neurology, explains that while progress has been made, these new drugs work best when the disease is caught early.
“We do have these wonderful drugs now,” Dr. Kaur said. “But unfortunately, they’re not going to help everybody. They’re only going to help people who have Alzheimer’s disease in the earliest stages.”
Alzheimer’s is the leading cause of dementia, slowly impacting memory, thinking, and daily life.
Dr. Kaur says there are several early warning signs people should pay attention to.
“Consistent short-term memory loss, repeating items over and over again, and forgetting to take medications repeatedly,” she said. “That’s a sign that something more is going on than just normal aging.”
According to Dr. Kaur, early testing is critical.
“There are these things called biomarkers,” she said. “They’re blood tests, scans, and spinal fluid tests. The interesting thing is now we actually have drugs that slow down the progression.”
Dr. Kaur also encourages patients and families to plan ahead to avoid additional stress later.
“We need to have those legal documents, a will, a power of attorney for medical decisions, because if we wait too long, it might be too late to sign those documents,” she said. “Then it becomes very difficult for your family to step in and help you.”
Experts say awareness and preparation are key.
With early detection, legal planning, and new advancements in treatment, families facing Alzheimer’s can find more time, more options, and more peace of mind.
