Article today on efforts to develop a biomarker based test to predict early onset of Alzheimer's underscores the valuable role the Reagan Udall Foundation can play and the extent to which its "critics" are engaged in ad hominem attacks that flow from rage instead of science.
Blood Test Might Spot Alzheimer's Early
By Jeffrey Perkel
HealthDay Reporter 2 hours, 10 minutes ago
MONDAY, Oct. 15 (HealthDay News) -- An international team of scientists has developed a blood test that could reveal which patients with mild cognitive impairment will go on to develop Alzheimer's disease.
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If replicated and validated -- and assuming the development of effective treatments against Alzheimer's in the future -- such a test could open the door to medicating at-risk patients earlier and slowing or limiting neurological damage, explained Dr. Allan Levey, chair of neurology at Emory University, Atlanta.
"If it can be replicated, then we will find out how important [the study] really is," said Levey, who was not involved in the research.
Reagan Udall would help not only in replication and validation but set up standards for its approval by the FDA. Sharing data from the test would lead to more specific and early treatment of people and new medicines. As a recent CMPI study found, if we delay onset of Alzheimer's by 5 years it would be worth nearly $2 trillion to the United States.
How sad that so many interest groups and professional cranks (like David Ross) have lined up so quickly to attack an institute with such a profound and humane mission and have condemned its biomarker based work as dangerous.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20071015/hl_hsn/bloodtestmightspotalzheimersearly
Blood Test Might Spot Alzheimer's Early
By Jeffrey Perkel
HealthDay Reporter 2 hours, 10 minutes ago
MONDAY, Oct. 15 (HealthDay News) -- An international team of scientists has developed a blood test that could reveal which patients with mild cognitive impairment will go on to develop Alzheimer's disease.
ADVERTISEMENT
If replicated and validated -- and assuming the development of effective treatments against Alzheimer's in the future -- such a test could open the door to medicating at-risk patients earlier and slowing or limiting neurological damage, explained Dr. Allan Levey, chair of neurology at Emory University, Atlanta.
"If it can be replicated, then we will find out how important [the study] really is," said Levey, who was not involved in the research.
Reagan Udall would help not only in replication and validation but set up standards for its approval by the FDA. Sharing data from the test would lead to more specific and early treatment of people and new medicines. As a recent CMPI study found, if we delay onset of Alzheimer's by 5 years it would be worth nearly $2 trillion to the United States.
How sad that so many interest groups and professional cranks (like David Ross) have lined up so quickly to attack an institute with such a profound and humane mission and have condemned its biomarker based work as dangerous.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20071015/hl_hsn/bloodtestmightspotalzheimersearly
