In February 2019, Dr Daniel M. Gibbs, MD, PhD, published a landmark article in the medical journal JAMA Neurology. Instead of presenting research findings, he wrote an essay calling on his colleagues to change attitudes towards Alzheimer's and diagnose the disease more aggressively at an early stage. This essay was special, not only because of its content, but also because it was written by someone living with the disease himself.
The doctor becomes a patient
After caring for Alzheimer's patients for 25 years, Dr Gibbs was diagnosed with the disease himself. He has now been living with the disease for at least 13 years. His personal experience as both doctor and patient gave him a unique perspective and made him a passionate advocate for early diagnosis and treatment.
Early intervention: The key to slowing down
There is growing evidence that early intervention can slow or even prevent Alzheimer's progression. Dr Gibbs stresses that anxiety often gets in the way of early diagnosis. ‘In the past, we only recognised the disease at a late stage. But now we know that early recognition and intervention are crucial,’ he says. He compares the current situation to cancer 20 years ago, when better treatments brought hope and enabled early detection.
Breaking through fear and stigma
Fear remains a major obstacle. Dr Gibbs argues that early diagnosis can not only improve the quality and quantity of life, but also offer hope. ‘We need to break the fear and stigma around early-stage Alzheimer's. Early-stage Alzheimer's is really not as bad as people think,’ he explains. He himself has been living with the disease for years without most people around him noticing.
The benefits of early diagnosis
Early diagnosis offers the opportunity to take steps to slow the progression of the disease. ‘We now know that you can have Alzheimer's features for decades without symptoms. The goal is to prolong the early stages for as long as possible,’ says Dr Gibbs. He stresses the importance of lifestyle changes and existing treatments.
Personal experiences and research
Dr Gibbs shares how he noticed his first symptoms in 2007 and was officially diagnosed in 2015. His early diagnosis enabled him to be proactive and participate in Alzheimer's studies, such as a clinical trial of the drug aducanumab. Although he had to stop because of side effects, he still believes in the drug's potential to slow the progression of Alzheimer's.
Lifestyle as a weapon against Alzheimer's
Dr Gibbs encourages everyone to make healthy lifestyle choices to prevent or slow down dementia. He himself follows a strict regime of exercise, the MIND diet, adequate sleep, and staying mentally and socially active. He stresses that knowing your genetic risk or getting an early diagnosis can be a motivation to actually make these changes.
A message of hope
With his mission in mind, Dr Gibbs looks forward to new developments in the fight against Alzheimer's. He remains involved in research studies and is preparing a book about his experiences. His message is clear: Know your risk, seek early diagnosis and be proactive. There is much hope for the future, but we must be willing to overcome fear to find that hope.
