FDA Approves Blood Test to Help Diagnose Alzheimer's - May, 2025

Doctors say the test could help individuals who are experiencing symptoms get an earlier diagnosis 

For Information: https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/fda-approves-alzheimers-blood-test.html?cmp=EMC-DSM-NLC-OTH-DLY-247401-320001-9283256-NA-05202025-TheDaily-MS2-NA-BTN-CLKBT_A-Health&encparam=3z218eR1rOT9wyj5i3uObA==

PT for Bill - A Good Visit

Today, my visit to Bill included watching him get his PT. They are trying to keep him mobile and make him more comfortable at the same time. He's leaning to the left and hunching which is hurting his back, hips and legs. First, they made him do some arm work. He is, and has always been, good at arm work. 

Then, on to the legs, which are his biggest challenge. The therapist did some stretching of his legs first. I was very impressed with her technique and kindness. He continues to yell, "Help me, help me, oh please help me." throughout the day, including during PT. When they ask him questions, he answers appropriately; then goes back to his "recording." 

It was decided that they need to place some cushions under his butt and next to his left side to position him better in his chair. That was a feat! It took three ladies almost 20 minutes to get it done, but they did. They calmly talked him through each step as he repeated, "help me, help me" over and over again. Again, I was impressed with their ability to handle him. They were firm, but kind as they "encouraged" him to do what needed to be done. 

By the time we got back to the memory care unit, he was exhausted. He immediately fell asleep in his chair. I waited awhile, hoping he'd wake up; but no, he's was out for the count. I finally left, grateful that he was comfortable, at least for the moment.

All in all, it was a good visit. I was able to observe how the PT staff work—not just with Bill, but with other patients too. Their professionalism and kindness stood out. 

We also discussed trying to get the VA to provide him with a custom wheel chair. That’s my next goal. Navigating the VA system isn’t easy, but I’m determined to try again. 

Interestingly, this is a VA Memory Care facility (Richard A Anderson Texas State Veteran's Home), but it's been privatized. And, the company that runs it and the VA don't communicate! So, I’ll need to make Bill an appointment at the Michael DeBakey VA hospital, where VA doctors can evaluate what kind of wheelchair he qualifies for. The RA Anderson Home will provide the transportation; I just need to meet him there.

So, here's to keeping my fingers crossed that it won't take an act of congress to get what we need!  

Twitching? A Side Effect of Memantine or Not?

Today was an interesting visit with Bill. Because of Hurricane Beryl and my resulting trip to Austin, then New Jersey, I had not seen him for over 3 weeks. This is the longest time we have been apart since I placed him in Memory Care. I wondered if he would notice.

When I arrived, he was nodding off in the Living Room area of his POD. He recognized me right away, so that was a good start. I asked him if he wanted to go for a ride and get some lunch. He smiled his usual, big, "smiley face" grin and said "yes!" As usual, I suggested he go to the bathroom before we took off. We did have some troubles there, but after the aide cleaned up, off we went. It did make me a bit nervous he was going to have a 2nd round of troubles, but we lucked out. 

We rode around for awhile, ending up at his favorite steak place, Texas Roadhouse in the Baybrook Mall, only to learn it did not open until 4pm on Mondays. So, we gassed up at Sam's next door and then headed back up towards Houston to House of Pies. I noticed him twitching his arms a couple of time, but I ignored it.

We had a good lunch and dessert. All was well other than he wanted to discuss an extremely odd idea he had about "poop stations for people." This was one for the books! It was most likely brought on from his incontinence earlier in the day, so maybe it's not as strange as it sounds. Alzheimers patients lose their "filter" and also the ability to use the right words, so he was probably telling me they need more places for people to go so they don't have incontinence issues. It made sense to him and I told him it was a good idea.

Then he began twitching his arms again. I had not seen this behavior in him before. When we returned to the VA, I told the head nurse about the twitching. She assured me she would have the doctor look into it. Meanwhile, I took him back to his room where he promptly fell asleep in his wheelchair. He was exhausted. I sat in his cozy recliner and answered email while he slept. When he awoke a short time later, I told him goodbye and started back home.

Not once did he ask where I had been for the last three weeks or about the hurricane. It was like I had seen him yesterday and the hurricane never happened. So now it's confirmed: No matter how long I'm gone, he has no idea how long it's been. To him, it's like I was there yesterday. That's a good thing.

When I got home, I looked up "Alzheimers and twitching" on the Internet. I discovered "twitching" could be a side effect of Memantine.* Memantine is prescribed to delay the advancement of Alzheimer's disease. So which is better? Delay the advancement of Alzheimer's and twitch, or get off the medication, not twitch, and advance to the Stage 7 sooner? Definitely something I need to discuss with his doctor. 

Of course, it could be something else altogether. As my daughter often asks me when I try to self-diagnose and prescribe, "Where did you get your medical degree?" I probably need to get my doctor this mug - LOL!

*Memantine-induced Myoclonus in a Patient with Alzheimer Disease, a study by Aditya A. Murgai and  Mark S. LeDoux

 

PrecivityAD2-New Blood Test for Alzheimer's

I read this in the 1440 Daily Digest today and thought it might be of interest to my readers.  

"A new diagnostic blood test for Alzheimer's disease was found to correctly identify the condition around 90% of the time, outperforming specialists' assessments based on physical and cognitive symptoms. The breakthrough offers a potential tool to accurately diagnose the disease and at earlier stages of development." 

I did a bit more research and found this article in Alzheimer's News Today: https://alzheimersnewstoday.com/news/precivityad-test-alzheimers-guided-clinical-decision-making/

The 1440 Digest article went on to say, 

"The new test—called PrecivityAD2—measures the ratios of both present in a patient’s blood, plugging the result into a proprietary algorithm to predict the risk of developing Alzheimer’s. Doctors hope the simple and cheap test can replace expensive scans and invasive spinal taps currently considered best-in-class for diagnosis."

Perhaps the PrecivityAD2 blood test will lead to new treatments for the disease. We can only hope. . .