See my fingers right on it, that's what happens with Alzheimer's. Gary's doctors diagnosed him with mild cognitive impairment. A transitional stage betweeen normal age-related memory loss and early Alzheimer's. Most patients with the diagnosis will go on to develop Alzheimer's within a few years, but not all. Some memeory deficits could be due to another medical condition.
Researchers use a variety of tools to diagnose mild cognitive impairment, like memory tests.
Blood tests check for known genetic markers and a protein that may be a valid predictor. MRI brain scans measure a memory structure known as the hippocampus. If people can be characterized clinically early in the course of the disease such as having mild cognitive impairment, researchers may be able to intervene. This is research Gary's wife is counting on. The Nemitz's say they're enjoying one day at a time.