Imaging For HOPE/Neurological Disorders/Alzheimer's Disease Back
The symptoms are sadly familiar: memory loss, vagueness, losing the point of a conversation, repeating oneself. The decline is steady and downhill. The patient requires increasing levels of care. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of late-life dementia, with approximately 4 million stricken in the U.S. alone. Annual cost estimates, including the costs of medical, long-term and home care, as well as caregiver productivity losses, approach $90 billion yearly. As the babyboomers reach the age of 60 and older, the number of Americans who will succumb to this disease may reach 14 million! The impact on people's lives and the economy is staggering.

New drugs are now available for patients with AD in its early stages. Donepezil (also known as Aricept) can temporarily stabilize the decline and improve memory function of patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's. However, recognition of dementia is particularly difficult in its early stages. Clearly, many patients are not diagnosed and fail to receive treatment, particularly in the early disease stages when intervention may do the most good.

Charlton Heston Speaks for PET on behalf of AMI
Alzheimer's News & Resources

How PET Can Make A Difference
  • PET is a test that can definitively diagnose Alzheimer's early enough to make full use of new drug therapies. [ more ]
  • PET can reassure fearful patients who might not have the disease. [ more ]
  • PET can redirect treatment for other conditions. [ more ]
  • PET is providing help in the discovery and development of new therapies.Academic centers and the pharmaceutical industry are now aggressively working to identify the molecular errors of Alzheimer's and to produce improved treatments and eventually a cure. PET is helping to make this happen.

Alzheimer's literature
The Memory Bible
Lifting the Shadows

You can purchase this literature and other PET related products from AMI- please download the products list and follow the instructions for purchasing.

Alzheimer's in the news

News

UCLA Researcher Discovers the Role of Common Pain Killers in Protecting Against Alzheimer's Disease


June 25, 2002 MSNBC News
The Disappearing Mind


March 25, 2002 Medical Breakthroughs
Seeing Alzheimer's Disease


January 10, 2002 ABCNews.com
Better Scanning for Alzheimer's


November 7, 2001JAMA
Alzheimer's Disease
Scientific Developments

July 21, 2002 Alzheimer Research Forum
Visualizing Amyloid Biggest Draw at Imaging Symposium in Stockholm, Consensus Sought on Validation


November 7, 2001JAMA
Positron Emission Tomography in Evaluation of Dementia
Alzheimer's Resources

Get Involved: Grass Roots Advocacy.

Alzheimer's Association
Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Link
Alzheimer Research Forum
American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging
Family Caregiver Alliance
Medline Plus Alzheimer's
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
UCLA Alzheimer's Disease Research Center
UCLA Center on Aging