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Alzheimer's Disease - Why We Need Early Diagnosis
Rasmussen J, Langerman H.. Degenerative neurological and neuromuscular disease, 2019-12-24
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Alzheimer's disease is the leading cause of dementia. However, neither Alzheimer's disease nor Alzheimer's dementia are an inevitable consequence of aging. This review provides an overview of the issues involved in a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease before an individual meets the criteria for Alzheimer's dementia. It examines how Alzheimer's disease diagnosis rates can be improved, the implications of an early diagnosis for the individual, carer and society, and the importance of risk reduction to prevent or delay progression. Although no disease-modifying agents capable of reversing the initial pathological changes are currently available, it may be possible to prevent or delay the development of dementia in a proportion of the population by modifying exposure to common risk factors. In other individuals, diagnosing the disease or risk of disease early is still valuable so that the individual and their carers have time to make choices and plan for the future, and to allow access to treatments that can help manage symptoms. Primary healthcare professionals play a pivotal role in recognising individuals at risk, recommending lifestyle changes in mid-adult life that can prevent or slow down the disease, and in timely diagnosis. Early intervention is the optimal strategy, because the patient's level of function is preserved for longer.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Rasmussen, J., & Langerman, H. (2019). Alzheimer's Disease - Why We Need Early Diagnosis. Degenerative neurological and neuromuscular disease. https://doi.org/10.2147/dnnd.s228939
Vancouver
Rasmussen J, Langerman H. Alzheimer's Disease - Why We Need Early Diagnosis. Degenerative neurological and neuromuscular disease. 2019. doi:10.2147/dnnd.s228939. PMID: 31920420.
BibTeX
@article{rasmussen2019-31920420,
author = {Rasmussen, J. and Langerman, H.},
title = {{Alzheimer's Disease - Why We Need Early Diagnosis}},
journal = {Degenerative neurological and neuromuscular disease},
year = {2019},
doi = {10.2147/dnnd.s228939},
pmid = {31920420},
url = {https://doi.org/10.2147/dnnd.s228939}
}
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Key findings
- It examines how Alzheimer's disease diagnosis rates can be improved, the implications of an early diagnosis for the individual, carer and society, and the importance of risk reduction to prevent or delay progression.
- Although no disease-modifying agents capable of reversing the initial pathological changes are currently available, it may be possible to prevent or delay the development of dementia in a proportion of the population by modifying exposure to common risk factors.
- In other individuals, diagnosing the disease or risk of disease early is still valuable so that the individual and their carers have time to make choices and plan for the future, and to allow access to treatments that can help manage symptoms.
- Primary healthcare professionals play a pivotal role in recognising individuals at risk, recommending lifestyle changes in mid-adult life that can prevent or slow down the disease, and in timely diagnosis.
- Early intervention is the optimal strategy, because the patient's level of function is preserved for longer.
Why it matters
This review states that no disease-modifying agents capable of reversing the initial pathological changes of Alzheimer's disease are currently available. It argues that it may be possible to prevent or delay dementia in a proportion of the population by modifying exposure to common risk factors, and that early diagnosis is still valuable so individuals and carers can plan and access treatments that help manage symptoms.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 47/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Degenerative neurological and neuromuscular disease) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | Degenerative Neurological and Neuromuscular Disease: journal h-index 30 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 2 / 5 | 2019 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 6 / 7 | Cited 503 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 5 / 5 | 55.9 citations a year over 9 year(s) since 2019 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 18.1× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 13 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 4 / 4 | Cited 305 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Haya Langerman: h-index 8 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | MSD (UK) Limited (United Kingdom): institution h-index 256 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 31920420) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 47 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
- DOI: 10.2147/dnnd.s228939
- PubMed: 31920420
- Original source →
- Free full text: Degenerative Neurological and Neuromuscular Disease →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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