Using plasma viscosity to diagnose dementia and Alzheimer’s disease

Dementia is a general term describing a neurodegenerative disorder with a cognitive decline. The disorder can manifest in various ways and produce distinct symptoms, depending on the specific regions of the brain that have been affected. Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 60–70% of total cases of dementia.¹ The second most common cause of dementia, accounting for about 20% of cases, is vascular dementia in which the blood supply to the brain is impaired.² Differential diagnosis of the subtypes can be difficult due to the overlapping of some symptoms. Other subtypes include Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, and mixed dementia.³ Dementia can be influenced by various factors, including (but not limited to) advanced age, genetic predisposition, cardiovascular illness, cerebrovascular diseases, hypertension, diabetes, and traumatic brain injury.⁴ It can manifest through various symptoms, encompassing memory loss, impaired thinking speed, diminished mental sharpness, communication difficulties, impaired judgement, fluctuating mood, and challenges in performing daily activities.

Signs of dementia 

According to the UK Alzheimer’s Society people with dementia face a wait of up to two years for diagnosis.⁶ Studies also indicate that caregivers of individuals with dementia face the highest rates of anxiety and depression.⁷ Determining Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia disorders at an early stage significantly decreases the likelihood of caregivers developing anxiety and depression.