NEWS from the field of DEMENTIA RESEARCH
Situation analysis
Today, nearly 50 million people live with dementia all over the world, and by 2050, this number will almost triple, reaching 131.5 million.
In Europe, approximately 10 million people are currently struggling with dementia or neurodegenerative diseases, compared to less than 6 million twenty years ago, but this number is expected to reach 20 million by 2030.
Scientist are currently working on the biomarker-based diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, a blood test-based diagnosis that will allow more and more people to learn about their involvement in the disease before symptoms appear. The test will also be able to determine the stage of Alzheimer's disease the person is in.
Although the deterioration of those with a clinical diagnosis as well as a biological diagnosis can be significantly delayed with medication, the disease can still only be treated, not cured.
Have you heard about LATE? (Limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy Neuropathologic Change) is a recently characterized, highly common form of dementia that primarily affects individuals over the age of 80, and it is often confused with Alzheimer’s disease due to similar symptoms.
LATE can be distinguished from Alzheimer’s by the accumulation of a protein called TDP-43 in brain areas responsible for memory and motion.
LATE is now estimated to affect about a third of people 85 and older, and 10 % of those 65 and older.
Common symptoms of LATE and Alzheimer include:
- Memory Loss: Similar to Alzheimer's, individuals with LATE experience significant memory loss.
- Cognitive Decline: This includes difficulties with thinking, reasoning, and understanding.
- Behavioural Changes: Changes in mood and behaviour, such as increased irritability or depression, are common.
- Language Difficulties: Some individuals may have trouble finding the right words or understanding language.
In LATE, the hippocampus, a brain area involved in memory formation and learning, often shrinks more than it does in Alzheimer’s, so LATE usually emerges at an older age. An individual can have LATE, Alzheimer's, or both simultaneously.
Key Aspects of LATE-NC
- Prevalence: Autopsy studies indicate LATE is present in the brains of roughly one-third to one-half of people over age 85.
- Symptoms: Similar to Alzheimer's, it includes significant memory loss, cognitive decline, difficulty with daily tasks, and mood/personality changes.
- Progression: When occurring alone ("pure" LATE), it typically causes a slower, more gradual decline in memory and thinking compared to Alzheimer's disease.
- Mixed Pathology: LATE often coexists with other pathologies, such as Alzheimer's or vascular disease. When both LATE and Alzheimer's are present, the disease progresses much faster.
Diagnosis of LATE
Can be challenging due to its similarities with Alzheimer's. Currently, diagnosis often involves a combination of clinical assessments, imaging techniques, and post-mortem brain examinations. Researchers are working on developing more precise diagnostic tools, including biomarkers that can be detected in living patients.
Treatment and Therapies
Currently, there is no cure for LATE. Treatment focuses on managing symptoms and improving the quality of life for patients.
This includes:
- Medications: drugs used to treat symptoms of Alzheimer's, such as cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine, can sometimes help manage symptoms of cognitive decline and memory loss in LATE patients
- Therapies:
- Cognitive Therapy: Techniques including memory exercises, problem-solving tasks, and activities that promote mental engagement
- Behavioural Interventions: addressing mood and behavioural changes and enhancing the patient's overall well-being
- Occupational Therapy: maintain patients’ independence by teaching strategies to manage daily activities and improve quality of life
- Lifestyle Modifications: balanced diet, regular physical exercise, mental stimulation, and social engagement.
JADE Health is one of the 20 flagship initiatives funded by the EU4Health programme, with the objectives to improve prevention, early detection and management of dementia & other neurological disorders utilising new care models focusing on prevention, promoting awareness, healthy aging, health literacy and early diagnosis to integrate validated best EU practices and/or (cost-) effective interventions through implementing transnational pilot initiatives, complementing and reinforcing existing policies and programs.
We are positive that future trends in dementia care should not only include technological innovations (such as GPS tracking, VR glasses, robotic animal-assisted therapies), but also the spread of needs-based, person-centred care plans, the development of an individual counselling network, covering the integration of politics, healthcare, the expansion of the social care system, intercultural learning, destigmatization, and public education. Providing education and resources and respite care for caregivers is crucial too.
By increasing awareness and understanding of LATE, we can improve the care and support for those affected by this condition.