Liver toxicity does not appear to be a problem, so periodic blood testing is not required. Additional anticholinesterase agents are being tested clinically, and other compounds are being developed and tested. Thus, the coming years may see a significant change in therapeutic management of Alzheimer's disease patients, particularly in the earliest stages of disease. These changes will emphasize early diagnostic tests and development of indicators of disease activity or therapeutic effects. Coping strategies have been developed for care givers, and continued psychosocial research to deal with progressive loss of self and its attendant long-term problems is an area of particular concern, especially as the frequency of Alzheimer's disease continues to grow with an aging population.
Early diagnosis is frequently of great help to patients and their families.
Early in the disease course, the patient is still quite capable of making judgments concerning care planning and property disposition. Frequently, involvement of the patient is helpful not only for the patient but also for relatives and care givers, who may otherwise have to make painful decisions later in the disease course. As more effective symptomatic therapies are developed, it may be anticipated that their effectiveness will be for early symptoms. Thus, early testing with measures having high predictive value, such as APOE genotyping for symptomatic patients, has become more widespread. During the course of brain atrophy, serial imaging studies may confirm an autocatalytic course.