The use of brain scans to make a diagnosis of Alzheimer's

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(concerns about using biomarkers and brain scans)

The bottom line is that positive scans detect high levels of amyloids but high levels of amyloids don't mean that the person scanned has Alzheimer's disease. Indeed, another article (Archives of Neurology, April 23, 2012) presents data that both amyloid (associated with plaques) and tau (associated with tangles) proteins need to be present for cognitive decline. Decline over a period of three years was not associated with high levels of amyloid proteins in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Rather decline after was associated with high levels of both tau and amyloid proteins in CSF.

What this means is that scans are still research tools and not diagnostic tools for Alzheimer's disease. In everyday clinical practice, scans should not be used for diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. Instead, diagnosis needs to be made on the basis of careful and detailed history/course, neurological exam, neuropsychological exam, and structural imaging. Furthermore, diagnose often requires serial assessments with the first exam as a baseline. Eliminating any of these steps dramatically increases misdiagnosis and increases unneeded stress.

Donepezil, generic name for Aricept, (and presumably rivastigmine and galantamine) and Namenda were associated with less decline over the course of one year than when both medications were discontinued in patients with moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease. Adding Namenda was no more effective than treatment with donepezil alone. Continue to read: naplesnews.com

Read more here: http://www.bnd.com/2012/02/07/2047945/obama-to-seek-more-alzheimers.html#storylink=cpy

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Antioxidants

They have been on product labels for over a decade, but do consumers understand what they are and how they function? In this special edition, we review recent market data, science, and academic and industry opinion on antioxidants, and get a glimpse at the next big ingredient in the segment. Read more: nutraingredients-usa.com

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