Shifting Paradigm in Early Detection and Prediction of Alzheimer's Disease

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive, irreversible neurodegenerative disease impacting cognition, function abilities, behavior, and social interactions. Alzheimer's disease progresses along a continuum from preclinical disease to mild cognitive and/or behavioral impairment, and then Alzheimer's disease dementia. AD is a chronic, nonlinearly progressive, multifactorial neurodegenerative disease that affects multiple domains of an affected individual's life during the advanced stage of progression. After the pandemic of COVID-19 and its adverse impact on physical and mental health, current statistics of prevalence are now classified as a silent pandemic, despite these major healthcare challenges, no effective treatment or accurate diagnosis currently exists. To address these challenges, we need a paradigm shift, with focus on the pre-dementia stages of AD. In this perspective, early detection and assessment are crucial and critical for the effective management of AD. Early diagnosis of AD will become important as treatments that alter the underlying disease pathology.