by Mona Gallagher

Created on: August 16, 2007   Last Updated: June 29, 2009

Alzheimer's Disease is a heartbreaking degenerative disease that take the mind long before it takes the body in death. However, hope is closer than ever now with genetic testing and imaging research getting closer to answers that might change the course of this disease and provide new treatment options.

There are currently about 4.5 million people in the U.S. with Alzheimer's disease. Risks are greater for people over 60 and it doubles every 5 years beyond the age of 65. There is no cure and the disease is not treatable, only the symptoms are treated.

Signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease includes a progressive, persistent, forgetfulness that gets worse over a period of time. Disorientation and difficulty in verbal expression coupled with impaired judgment follow the forgetfulness.

Heredity is a factor in Alzheimer's Disease, and women are at a higher risk than men by virtue of their longevity. Family members have a slightly higher risk of the disease. Three genetic mutations, one from apolipoprotein E (APOE), are high risk factors. High blood pressure, high cholesterol and uncontrolled diabetes, increase the risk of Alzheimer's Disease.

Genetic Tests: The exciting and good news is that research is getting close to developing tests that will, when perfected, be able to diagnose Alzheimer's disease in early stages. Currently it's diagnosed in later stages after it progresses to the point of memory loss and brain damage. Ruling out all other possible medical conditions is the standard present method for diagnosing Alzheimer's Disease.

The first test involves genetic material and early diagnostic tests show great promise. Researchers have isolated 1200 genes that can predict Alzheimer's Disease. Tests showed that genes could predict Alzheimer's Disease with 80% accuracy.

Imaging Tests: MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) and PET imaging (Positron Emission Tomography) are used together for detection of changes in the brain. MRI scans can identify physical changes in the brain that signify mild cognitive impairment. Combined, they can identify early changes and in the study, the identification was 100% correct identifying persons with mild cognitive impairment. (Half of the subjects tested had MCI and half did not.)

What are the far-reaching implications of the tests? It may be possible someday to treat the causes of Alzheimer's Disease instead of just treating the symptoms. In the coming year, large-scale trials and results are expected to be completed. This development brings hope where no hope existed before.

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