Study finds dementia cases may be much higher, highlights early diagnosis

“The results of this study we’re talking about are disturbing,” said Dr. Ted Huey, Director of Butler Hospitals’ memory and aging program. He said while these newly released numbers are scary, they point to what’s really going on.

“A lot of those previous studies missed some people with dementia,” said Huey.

Irene Sullivan may have been one of them.

After her diagnosis with Alzheimer’s, her children enrolled her in a clinical trial.

“My mother went through the trial, but then refused to continue,” said her daughter, Kathleen Aurgemma.

According to the study, this is part of the reason why numbers were much lower.

“And so to correct that, they did very rigorous methods of making sure they followed everyone,” said Huey.

For Black Americans, the elevated risk may boil down to inequalities regarding access to care.

For women, well, on average, we live longer than men. But there’s something more that puts women at higher risk.

A particular gene, known as APOE-4.

“People who had the bad version, the E4 version are at significantly higher risk,” said Huey.

Remember Irene Sullivan? It wasn’t just her.

“Our mother’s mother also suffered from Alzheimer’s,” said Erin Breene, Aurgemma’s sister.

Their Alzheimer’s battles had a deep impact.

“And so I got tested,” said Aurgemma. “I couldn’t sleep. The day of my appointment couldn’t come fast enough to find out my genetics.”

The APOE-4 gene. Her sister, too, tested positive.

Neither have symptoms.

“By the time you actually have the symptoms, you’ve lost a lot of neurons,” said Huey.

That’s why these sisters are in a prevention trialat Butler Hospital known as the AHEAD trial. Looking at a new disease modifying drug that could ensure they never have symptoms.

However, there are other prevention trials at Butler Hospital.