Researchers in Italy have created an artificial intelligence program that can detect signs of Alzheimer's up to 10 years before symptoms appear.
The computer system scans the brain for tiny structural changes that indicate the early stages of the disease. The program has a success rate of nearly 90 percent.
Jinny Helms, with the Georgia chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, says about five million people are living with the disease.
Alzheimer's is not a normal part of aging. The greatest known risk factor is increasing age, and the majority of people with Alzheimer's are 65 and older.
About 140,000 Georgians are living with Alzheimer's disease.
But Alzheimer's is not just a disease of old age. Approximately 200,000 Americans under the age of 65 have younger-onset Alzheimer’s disease.
There is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s, but early diagnosis and treatment can slow the progression of the disease.
One of the most common signs of Alzheimer's is memory loss, especially forgetting recently learned information.
Others include forgetting important dates or events; asking for the same information over and over; increasingly needing to rely on memory aids.