Doctors may be able to predict if you'll develop Alzheimer's even before the early symptoms start, giving you a fighting chance against the disease. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University compared ratios of proteins found in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of Alzheimer's patients[1] , with those of healthy participants, to see if the fluid could provide any indicator of Alzheimer's onset.


Preliminary results show variances in CSF protein ratios provided clues indicating future impairment, as early as five years before the onset of symptoms. Samples of CSF were collected annually from participants from 1995 to 2005. Since 2009, participants were given annual neuropsychological and physical tests.


Of the 265 participants studied, 53 have developed mild cognitive impairments or dementia. Around three-quarters of the volunteers sampled have close family members with Alzheimer's, putting them at a higher risk for developing the disease. Symptoms of Alzheimer's[2] include daily forgetfulness like missing appointments, confusion, decreased judgement, and difficulty completing routine tasks.


"It has been hard to see Alzheimer's disease coming, even though we believe it begins developing in the brain a decade or more before the onset of symptoms," Johns Hopkins professor of neurology, Marilyn Albert, said in a release. Other methods of Alzheimer's detection[3] include brain imaging and cognitive tests.


"When we see patients with high blood pressure and high cholesterol, we don't say we will wait to treat you until you get congestive heart failure. Early treatments keep heart disease patients from getting worse, and it's possible the same may be true for those with pre-symptomatic Alzheimer's," Albert said.


Medications for Alzheimer's typically fail, researchers believe, because symptoms have generally progressed and it can be difficult to reverse the damage. That's why the results of this study seem promising. Early detection of the disease could give doctors a chance to administer treatment, potentially delaying or even stopping the progression.


In another recent study, researchers found a sniff test [4] involving peanut butter to be capable of confirming an Alzheimer's diagnosis.



Earlier on HuffPost50:




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  • Before Your Appointment


    Gathering your health information and getting organized before your appointment are the key steps to ensuring a productive meeting with your doctor. This is especially important if you're seeing multiple doctors or are meeting with a new physician for the first time.




  • Get Your Test Results


    Make sure the doctor you're seeing has copies of your latest X-ray, MRI or any other test or lab results, including reports from other doctors that you've seen. In most cases, you'll need to do the legwork yourself, which may only require a phone call to your previous doctor's administrative staff, asking for it to be sent, or you may need to go pick it up and bring it to the new office yourself.




  • List Your Medications


    Make a list of all the medications you're taking (prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals and herbal supplements) along with the dosages, and take it with you to your appointment. Or, just gather up all your pill bottles in a bag and bring them with you.




  • Gather Your Health History


    Your doctor also needs to know about any previous hospitalizations, as well as any current or past medical problems, even if they are not the reason you are going to the doctor this time. Genetics matter too, so having your family's health history can be helpful. The U.S. Surgeon General offers a free web-based tool called <a href="http://familyhistory.hhs.gov" target="_hplink">"My Family Health Portrait"</a> that can help you put one together.




  • Prepare A List Of Questions


    Make a written list of the top three or four issues you want to discuss with your doctor. Since most appointments last between 10 and 15 minutes, this can help you stay on track and ensure you address your most pressing concerns first. If you're in for a diagnostic visit, you should prepare a detailed description of your symptoms.




  • During Your Appointment


    The best advice when you meet with your doctor is to speak up. Don't wait to be asked. Be direct, honest and as specific as possible when recounting your symptoms or expressing your concerns. Many patients are reluctant or embarrassed to talk about their symptoms, which makes the doctor's job a lot harder to do. It's also a good idea to bring along a family member or friend to your appointment. They can help you ask questions, listen to what the doctor is telling you and give you support.