Doctors admit that Alzheimer's disease has no cure. It remains the most common cause of dementia. Estimates project that the dreaded disease will spread from its current five million cases to an anticipated 20 million within four decades. In that time, the cost of Alzheimer's care is expected to skyrocket from $172 billion to well over $1 trillion.
Present methods of accurate diagnoses are only possible after a patient dies, when microscopic examinations of brain tissue reveal the distinctive plaques and tangles associated with the disease.
Researchers hope to alter this scenario. They're working to detect dementia at its very earliest stages, which may allow doctors to protect the brain before excessive damage occurs. The tool showing promise for early detection is a brain-imaging compound called AV-45. Once the new radioactive molecular imaging compound is injected into the patient, it crosses the blood-brain barrier and binds to any beta-amyloid plaques--the tell-tale Alzheimer's "signature."
Follow-up imaging by Positron Emission computed Tomography (PET) then lets doctors view a patient's brain and evaluate it for dyed amyloid plaques. Researchers believe that AV-45 can also be used as a biomarker for monitoring the disease's progress and drug efficacy.
AV-45 is expected to gain FDA approval this year. The novel compound could provide doctors with an effective method of tracking the progression of disease from mild cognitive impairment to late Alzheimer's. It could also be used in the development and testing of the more than 150 Alzheimer's drugs presently under evaluation.
For an additional perspective, check out this video:
Alex A. Kecskes has written hundreds of published articles on health/fitness, "green" issues, TV/film entertainment, restaurant reviews and many other topics. As a former Andy/Belding/One Show ad agency copywriter, he also writes web content, ads, brochures, sales letters, mailers and scripts for national B2B and B2C clients. Please see more of his blogs and view additional job postings on Nexxt.
Present methods of accurate diagnoses are only possible after a patient dies, when microscopic examinations of brain tissue reveal the distinctive plaques and tangles associated with the disease.
Researchers hope to alter this scenario. They're working to detect dementia at its very earliest stages, which may allow doctors to protect the brain before excessive damage occurs. The tool showing promise for early detection is a brain-imaging compound called AV-45. Once the new radioactive molecular imaging compound is injected into the patient, it crosses the blood-brain barrier and binds to any beta-amyloid plaques--the tell-tale Alzheimer's "signature."
Follow-up imaging by Positron Emission computed Tomography (PET) then lets doctors view a patient's brain and evaluate it for dyed amyloid plaques. Researchers believe that AV-45 can also be used as a biomarker for monitoring the disease's progress and drug efficacy.
AV-45 is expected to gain FDA approval this year. The novel compound could provide doctors with an effective method of tracking the progression of disease from mild cognitive impairment to late Alzheimer's. It could also be used in the development and testing of the more than 150 Alzheimer's drugs presently under evaluation.
For an additional perspective, check out this video:
Alex A. Kecskes has written hundreds of published articles on health/fitness, "green" issues, TV/film entertainment, restaurant reviews and many other topics. As a former Andy/Belding/One Show ad agency copywriter, he also writes web content, ads, brochures, sales letters, mailers and scripts for national B2B and B2C clients. Please see more of his blogs and view additional job postings on Nexxt.
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