Many Alzheimer's Patients Did Not Receive Full Diagnosis From Doctors

A lot of Alzheimer patients and their caregivers admit that their doctors never gave them full diagnosis or explanation that they already have symptoms of the degenerative disease.

As reported by CNN, some 55% of interviewed patients with Alzheimer's or their caregivers said that their doctors never talked about it openly, as what recent reports from the Alzheimer's Association said.

The results is said to be in contrast with doctors' reactions toward the big four cancers -- breast, colorectal, lung and prostate. As said, 90% of the respondents said that their doctors do not have any problem revealing that they have it.

"These really low diagnosis disclosure rates [of Alzheimer's] are really reminiscent of what happened in the 1950s and '60s, and even into the '70s, with cancer. Cancer was called the 'c-word.' It didn't get talked about in doctors' offices. It certainly wasn't talked about in the general public," Beth Kallmyer, vice president of constituent services at the association said via reports from CBS News.

Further, Kallmyer said that this behavior should be changed as people have the right to know about their conditions.

"It is of utmost importance to respect people's autonomy, empower them to make their own decisions and acknowledge that people with Alzheimer's have every right to expect truthful discussions," Kallmyer said as mentioned in New York Daily News.

The hesitation of the doctors to provide full diagnosis is due to emotional distress that their information might bring, the news outlet said.

"There is an element of stigma here towards brain and mental health problems in general. I would call it professional awkwardness. I can't really help this condition, why invest time and energy talking about it, it makes me squirm," said Dr. Pierre Tariot, director of Banner's Alzheimer's Institute via BBC.

Meanwhile, some doctors said that they have been brave enough to disclose more details and health updates to their patients with Alzheimer's.

I give patients a new diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease many times a week, and every time it is uncomfortable, and I've been doing it for over 10 years. It is easier to talk about cancer now that there are so many new and effective treatment strategies, and cause of optimism with survival from cancer at an all-time high," Dr. Tom Price, Medical Director for Emory University's Geriatric Clinic said.

Alzheimer's Association is said to have interviewed patients whose Medicare records said that they contacted the illness. The records are from 2008 to 2010 which are then compared the information to patient responses in the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey.