The only definitive way to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease is to find out if plaques and tangles exist in brain tissue, which is an examination that can only be performed after a person dies. In the meantime, doctors must conduct tests that assess memory impairment and other thinking skills, as well as judge functional abilities, identify behavioral changes, and perform additional tests that rule out other possible causes of impairment. From a chiropractic standpoint, it may be possible to detect the earliest stages of the disease by observing walking patterns. Research indicates that, when a person’s gait becomes slower or more variable or less controlled, his or her cognitive function is also suffering. These walking changes may predate observable cognitive changes.
After decades of intensive research, the scientific community seems to agree that there is no one cause of Alzheimer’s disease. Rather, many factors, both genetic and extrinsic, probably contribute to the disorder in varying degrees in different individuals. Chiropractors advocate an overall healthy lifestyle and prevention. To learn more, please call FAMILY PRACTICE OF CHIROPRACTIC at 617- 472-4229. We are located at 112 McGrath Hwy., Quincy.
P.S. An initial consultation with a chiropractor includes an examination of posture and gait.
For Your Health,
Dr. Gabrielle Freedman