Opinion: Routine cognitive screening can help detect early signs of dementia
Both of us lost our dads to Alzheimer’s disease, and both of our families carried extra burdens from dementia because the diagnoses were delayed. Diane’s family wondered if her dad’s personality changes were due to early retirement and feeling a loss of purpose. Nora’s family was puzzled by her dad’s trouble finding words and getting lost easily.
It took five years for Diane’s family to realize her dad’s behavior was not “normal aging” and by then he was past the early stage of Alzheimer’s disease. For Nora, it wasn’t until her dad was admitted to a hospital that he received a diagnosis, several years after showing some symptoms.
