Memory loss isnt always Alzheimers: Experts warn of common but little-known dementia

As Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia — affecting an estimated 6.7 million Americans — it’s not surprising that people who experience memory loss may suspect AD.In fact, there is another common cognitive disorder with very similar symptoms, called limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy — or LATE for short — that is often misdiagnosed as Alzheimer’s.A recent report published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association highlights the need to develop “objective criteria” for diagnosing and staging all types of dementia, including LATE.LATE is a prevalent condition in late life and can contribute to memory loss and cognitive decline, according to report co-author Rebecca M.Edelmayer, Ph.D., Alzheimer’s Association vice president of scientific engagement in Chicago.“LATE is defined by changes in the TDP-43 protein in brain tissue and frequently co-exists with Alzheimer’s disease changes, such as buildup of beta amyloid plaques and tau tangles,” she told Fox News Digital.The newly proposed criteria aim to help clinicians better differentiate LATE from Alzheimer’s, ultimately leading to more precise diagnoses and improved treatment strategies, Edelmayer noted.LATE tends to have a slower rate of decline than Alzheimer’s, according to lead author David Wolk, professor of neurology at the University of Pennsylvania.The condition occurs in tandem with Alzheimer’s disease in about one-third of patients, the doctor estimated, and it seems to accelerate the course of disease.  More than 25% of people over 80 have this form of dementia.“Despite the commonality of the condition, most clinicians and patients have never heard of LATE and don’t consider this when memory loss is present,” Wolk noted.“Knowing whether it is present with Alzheimer’s disease also impacts prognosis and may impact the efficacy of treatments.”Before the criteria presented in the new report,...