Alzheimer’s Disease in the News

Research breakthroughs are being made in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease lately. It used to be that the only way to diagnose the disease was after death. But recently the University of Pittsburgh has identified people who are 18 times more likely to get Alzheimer's by testing living brains. The test uses positron emission tomography (PET) scans to look for Pittsburgh Compound B (PIB) in the brain. This new discovery will help researchers find better treatments in the future.

Alzheimer’s disease is very complex. Although much has been gained as far as understanding the disease and caring for patients, this is the first time that scientists have been able to show conclusive evidence that brain abnormalities can lead to Alzheimer’s disease. Other recent research from Rush University Medical Center in Chicago shows that having diabetes in middle age raises the chances of getting Alzheimer’s disease by 65%. For now there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but being able to study living people will help researchers find new ways to diagnose and eventually cure the disease.
SOURCES: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center; Rush University Medical Center

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