Hi Larry,

I think that is a question you really might want to ask your doctor.  But
here's my opinion for what it is worth.   I have thought about this deeply.

There are tests now, that are supposedly the most accurate which involve
taking a sample of spinal fluid, and they are able to detect early
alzheimers from that..... even long before it is detectible by other means.

In the case of my mother in law, they did several things;  a thyroid test, a
blood test, and a cat scan.   Those three tests revealed that she did not
have a thyroid insufficiency, that she did not need vitamin B-12 ( a common
cause of forgetfulness ) and that she DID have some notable changes in the
brain that suggested it might be alzheimers.

They also did a test (administered by a psychiatrist)  in which she was
asked to do certain simple sequences of actions.   The doc told her to take
a sheet of paper, fold it in half, then into four, then to place it back on
the doctors desk.    She did the first two steps and forgot the third one.

Others here have described similar tests which involved drawing a clock face
and drawing in the various times that were called out to them.   If the
numbers aren't placed in properly or the hands of the clock are not placed
right for the time, it can be very revealing.   A normal person would have
no problem at all with drawing a clock face, putting the numbers in the
right place, and indicating a particular time with drawing in the hands.

Is your wife on cholesterol medication?   Lipitor, crestor, etc?   They have
been strongly associated with memory issues.  The effect goes away when the
Statin drug is discontinued for a while.   Lots of doctors don't tell you
this when they put you on these drugs.

I think it is very important, in fact EXTREMELY so, that you are aware that
there are conditions that are not alzheimers at all, but present themselves
just like it.   Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus for one, and others I have
already mentioned, thyroid and B-12 issues.   Those three are completely
reversible!

There is also another issue that can come up with memory, and that is
vascular insufficiency.   My father has this, and he had a stent put in his
carotid artery which has given him a few good years since then.   The way he
first knew was through losing the sight of one eye.   It hasn't really come
back either.

So that is why you need to get a doctor involved, even now.   So it isn't a
case of not wanting to know if you are getting alzheimers, but a case of
finding out exactly what is the particular cause of the memory loss you are
dealing with.

If it is something reversible, what a shame to not find out!

So lets say for the sake of argument that the tests DO point to alzheimers.
There are medications out there right now that really do prolong the
person's function and slow the process.   Wouldn't it be a shame to let the
person go downhill in memory loss, without even giving them a half a chance
to preserve their mind as long as possible?

I come down on the side of thorough early detection and early treatment with
modern medications.   It is what I would want for myself or my husband.