The new criteria for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease

20 Things To Know About Alzheimer's Disease

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Alzheimer's disease presents in three broad ways. The first is an early stage where there are no obvious symptoms, but changes are already occurring in the brain. This is the stage targeted by the new diagnostic criteria. The idea is that the failure of treatments in clinical trials to date is that we wait too long to start taking the drugs as the brain is too damaged to benefit. Successful treatment would delay or prevent progression to the next stage called Mild Cognitive Impairment where the problems are mild and there is no disability. Dementia is the third phase where changes are severe enough to cause loss of independence and disability.

The early phase is identified by the use of biomarkers, such as brain scans and tests of cerebral spinal fluid that are used to identify the early stages of Alzheimer's disease and to start treatments. There are several serious flaws with this strategy. First, diagnosis would be made on the basis of amyloid proteins which are associated with the development of plaques, a theory of what causes Alzheimer's disease. However, in autopsy studies up to 30 percent of people with dense amyloid plaques never develop clinical signs of Alzheimer's disease. They would be misdiagnosed. Second, the most advanced clinical trial of amyloid reversing drugs was terminated by Lily last year. The drug reversed amyloid deposition but clients got worse rather than better.

Third, how early should interventions start? Fourth, how safe is early intervention? Will there be unintended and damaging side effects of altering brain chemistry so early in life?. Continue to read: naplesnews.com

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

TODAY'S PHOTO

Increased vitamin D intakes may reduce Alzheimer's risk

People with higher intakes of vitamin D may be at a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, but not other forms of dementia, suggests new data from France. Read more: nutraingredients-usa.com

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Posted YVN (AMYLOID @ PHOTO).