• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • WHO WE ARE
    • About Our Firm
    • Attorney and Staff Profiles
    • News and Events
  • Areas We Serve
    • Essex County, MA
      • Andover
      • North Andover
    • Hillsborough County, NH
      • Manchester
      • Nashua
    • Middlesex County, MA
      • Concord
      • Lexington
      • Wakefield
      • Winchester
      • Woburn
    • Rockingham County, NH
      • Exeter
      • Londonderry
      • Salem
  • Services
    • Asset & Business Planning
    • Elder Law & Medicaid Services
    • Estate And Gift Tax Figures
    • Family-Owned Businesses & Farms
    • Legacy Planning Services
    • LGBTQ Estate Planning
    • Loss Of A Loved One
    • Pet Planning
    • Power Of Attorney
    • Probate and Trust Administration
    • SECURE Act
    • Special Needs Planning
    • Young Families
  • Elder Law
    • Coping with Alzheimer’s
    • Hospice Care
    • Medicaid Planning
    • Nursing Home Planning
  • Resources
    • Elder Law
      • Elder Law & Medicaid Definitions
      • Elder law reports
      • Elder Law Resources
        • Elder Law Resources – Londonderry, New Hampshire
        • Elder Law Resources North Andover, Massachusetts
        • Nashua, New Hampshire Elder Law Resources
        • Woburn, MA Elder Law Resources
    • Estate Planning
      • Estate Planning Articles
      • Estate and Gift Tax Figures
      • Estate Planning Checkup
      • Estate Planning Definitions
      • Estate Planning Reports
        • Advanced Estate Planning
        • Basic Estate Planning
        • Estate Planning for Niches
        • Trust Administration
      • Incapacity Planning Definitions
      • Is Your Estate Plan Outdated?
      • Top 10 Estate and Legacy Planning Techniques
    • Free Estate Planning Worksheet
    • Free Seminars
    • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Asset Protection Planning
      • Business Planning
      • Charitable Gifting
      • Estate Planning
      • Elder Law
      • Frequently Asked Questions for Families Without an Estate Plan
      • Incapacity Planning
      • Legacy Wealth Planning
      • LGBTQ Estate Planning
      • Medicaid Planning
      • Trust Administration & Probate
      • Wills and Trusts
    • Newsletters
    • Pre Consultation Form
    • Presentations
    • Probate and Trust Administration
      • Bereavement Resources
      • How to Know if You Need Extra Help With Your Grieving
      • Loss Of A Loved One
      • Probate Resources
        • Nashua, New Hampshire Probate Resources
        • Probate Resources – Londonderry, New Hampshire
        • Probate Resources – North Andover, MA
        • Probate Resources – Wakefield, Massachusetts
        • Woburn, MA Probate Resources
      • The Mourner’s Bill of Rights
      • Things You Need To Do When a Loved One Passes Away With a Trust
      • Things You Need To Do When a Loved One Passes Away With a Will
      • Trust Administration & Probate Definitions
    • Published Books
  • Live Seminars
    • Online Seminars
    • In-Person Seminars
  • Videos
  • Contact Us
  • Blog
  • Reviews
    • Our Reviews
    • Review Us

DeBruyckere Law Offices, PC

Serving Southern New Hampshire & Essex Country, Massachussetts

Call us today(603) 894-4141

(978) 969-0331

Online Seminars
Attend Free Seminar
Home » Elder Law » Promising News for Alzheimer’s

Promising News for Alzheimer’s

May 19, 2014Elder Law

alzheimer's

Typically, when elder clients come to us for assistance in long term health planning, preparing an estate plan or updating their powers of attorney, it’s often because they have received upsetting medical news or because someone else they’re close is suffering. Even those who have established their estate plan well before retirement will often review those efforts to ensure they’re current – and it’s not uncommon that the diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer’s for someone they’re close to that prods them forward. It’s a frightening possibility, but now, medical experts might have taken a bold step toward a future that can better predict and perhaps even prevent these difficult diagnoses. Could it be that a medical breakthrough is in the near future for detecting Alzheimer’s – and ultimately, preventing it? Maybe.

Alzheimer’s

The number of Americans with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia are growing rapidly, especially with an increasing percentage of the U.S. population ages. It’s estimated, in fact, that by 2025 the number of people age 65 and older with Alzheimer’s disease will reach approximately 7 million — a 40 percent increase from the estimated 5.1 million currently affected.

There is hope, though. A new blood test for early Alzheimer’s disease may be on the horizon, according to a new report.

Georgetown University is where researchers developed a test that looks for 10 substances in the blood known as cell membrane lipids. These substances could be connected to the breakdown of certain cells in the brain. The study found that those with lower levels of these substances were more likely to develop mental decline within three years. That applies even for those who have no signs of Alzheimer’s at all. Wondering just how accuracy the testing’s been? These tests have accurately predicted Alzheimer’s or other dementia illnesses in 90 percent of the cases.

“The principle difference is we actually looked at individuals without symptoms, tracking them to see if they developed the disease,” said Dr. Howard Federoff, vice president of health sciences at Georgetown University and lead author of the study published today in the journal Nature Medicine. “No other study has done this.”

The Trials

The trials included 525 men and women, all of whom were over the age of 70. For five years, the trials moved forward. Some of these subjects already had Alzheimer’s or mild cognitive impairment, while some did not. Over the course of the five years, researchers took note of which subjects developed cognitive problems, then compared those subjects’ blood tests to the subjects who did not experience these changes. The comparison appeared to reveal the importance of the 10 cell membrane lipids in the development of mental decline.

It’s an impressive start; however, it’s nowhere near the stage of a more widespread testing effort. The research is in its infancy, but what’s been uncovered is by far the most promising news in the Alzheimer’s battle.

To date, there is no single test that can show whether a person has Alzheimer’s. So the finding of this study, which suggests a panel of biomarkers in a person’s blood could signal early degenerative changes in neurons within the brain prior to the onset of dementia, is intriguing. Scientists may not yet have all of the answers as to what causes Alzheimer’s disease, but with ongoing clinical trials, they are discovering new methods for diagnoses — and possibly even new ways to intervene.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Daniel DeBruyckere
Daniel DeBruyckere
Attorney Daniel A. DeBruyckere has been practicing law in New Hampshire and Massachusetts since 1998, and has helped hundreds of clients with their estate planning and elder care issues. He is very well respected in the area of estate planning, probate, trust administration, elder law issues, and business planning.
Daniel DeBruyckere
Latest posts by Daniel DeBruyckere (see all)
  • Concerned about Leaving a Large Inheritance? A Trust May Be the Solution - January 19, 2021
  • If You Are a Parent Estate Planning Is Essential - January 14, 2021
  • Is It Too Late for Medicaid Planning to Help Me? - January 12, 2021

Other Articles You May Find Useful

Woburn estate planning attorneys
What You Need to Know If You Are Caring for Someone with Alzheimer’s
Nashua area elder law attorney
If You Hope to Age in Place You Need to Plan Ahead
North Andover area Medicaid planning attorney
Spousal Impoverishment Guidelines for 2020
North Andover area elder law attorney
Is There A Difference between Alzheimer’s and Dementia?
Nashua area elder law attorney
Tips to Help You Choose the Best Nursing Home for Your Mother
North Andover area veterans benefits attorney
Are You a Vietnam Vet? If So, What You Need to Know about Veterans Benefits and Help for PTSD

DeBruyckere Law Offices, PC

Download our free Estate Planning Worksheet

There's a lot that goes into setting up a comprehensive estate plan, but with our FREE worksheet, you'll be one step closer to getting yourself and your family on the path to a secure and happy future.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Please fill out the form below:
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkdin
  • Youtube

Blog Subscribe

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Testimonials

I felt complete trust and confidence in Dan DeBruyckere and his staff. They have a caring, low-key approach and there is no pressure to add products to the estate plan; rather he makes me aware of changes in the law, etc. I always learn something new to assist me in our planning!

LN

Your seminar was the only seminar we attended without financial advisors wanting to invest our money instead of protecting it! The information this firm provided was easy to understand even though it is a difficult topic. Thank you for all of your help!

HR

We both felt so comfortable in they way our Estate Planning was handled. We felt like someone was watching out for our best interest. Everyone we worked with at the firm was thorough, and explained everything in a way where we could walk away feeling like everything was complete.

RS

A truly great experience all the way through. Felt like we were a part of the family! Thank you.

LW

We could not have picked a more qualified law firm. Everyone that we came in contact with made us feel at ease.

Happy Client

We were very impressed with the statements put forth by Dan at the Seminar. We were impressed even more by their down to earth approach and the efficiency they accomplished it all.

Charles

Londonderry Office

Londonderry Office
One Verani Way
Londonderry, NH 03053
Phone: (603) 894-4141

See Larger Map Get Directions

Nashua Office

Nashua Office
76 Northeastern Boulevard, Unit 31B
Nashua, NH 03062
Phone: (603) 894-4141

See Larger Map Get Directions

North Andover Office

North Andover Office
231 Sutton St, Suite 1B
North Andover, MA 01845
Phone: (978) 686-4645

See Larger Map Get Directions

Woburn Office

Woburn Office
444 Washington Street, Suite 503
Woburn, MA 01801
Phone: (978) 969-0331

See Larger Map Get Directions

By Appointment Only

BEVERLY OFFICE

Beverly Office
900 Cummings Center Suite 204-U
Beverly, MA 01915
Phone: (978) 969-0331

See Larger Map Get Directions

Office Hours

Monday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Map

dadlawoffices_sidbr_map
  • Advantages of Working With Our Firm
  • About The American Academy
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Contact Us

Connect with Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkdin
  • Youtube
footer-logo

© 2021 DeBruyckere Law Offices
All Right Reseved.

Attorney Advertisement

© 2021 American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc.