ALZ123 The basics of Alzheimers and other dementia-related - - PDF document

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ALZ123

The basics of Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related illnesses

Presented by David Davis

STATISTICS

• Approximately 50,000 in New Mexico
• Over 5 million in the United States
• Effects 1 in 8 over the age of 65
• Effects 1 in 2 over the age 0f 85
• These estimates will likely more than double by 2050

A NATIONAL CRISIS

• Currently there is no treatment, cure or preventive for

Alzheimer’s.

• More people die from Alzheimer’s than from breast cancer and

prostate cancer combined.

• When managing care Alzheimer’s and dementia-related

illnesses are the most expensive.

RISK FACTORS

• The greatest risk factor is age
• Genetics and family history
• Brain injury
• While there are no preventative measures for

Alzheimer’s, Vascular dementia may be prevented by maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

WHAT IS DEMENTIA?

• A condition of global deterioration of memory

and cognition that impairs thought and social functioning.

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TYPES OF DEMENTIA

Alzheimer’s Vascular Lewy Body Parkinson’s related Head trauma or injury All of these types of dementia’s are considered to non-reversible. Some types of dementia, however, are reversible.

WHAT IT IS NOT

• It is not a normal part of aging
• It is not contagious
• It not hereditary
• Anything intentional on the part of the patient

SYMTOMS

What to look for Can often go un-noticed for years Who will make observations? Say something

DIAGNOSIS

• Why is it important?
• Why is an early diagnosis even more

important?

THE DIAGNOSTIC PROCESS

• Visit with primary care physician.
• Basic general interview with patient and hopefully a family

member.

• Cognitive test.
• Basic neurological test.
• CT scan or MRI
• Spinal tap
• Time

MEDICATIONS

• Aricept, generic Donezipril
• Namenda
• Exelon

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EXPERIMENTAL DRUG TRIALS IN ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE AT UNM

Nicotine patch for improvement of memory function.

A two-year double blind study to test the benefit of nicotine.

Amyloid antibody to remove amyloid plaques.

The antibody is given by iv infusion each month. Improvement in thinking and removal of amyloid are tested. MULTICENTER VASCULAR DEMENTIA STUDY: BIOMARKERS IN VCID (MARKVCID)

UNM has been selected as one of 7 centers around the country to develop biomarkers for the diagnosis of vascular cognitive impairment. Patients with cognitive complaints and/or white matter injury on MRI are recruited for this 5-year study. GOALS FOR MARKVCID NIH established a 7 center consortium to study the vascular impact on Alzheimer’s disease. In the first two years each center will test the biomarkers they proposed. In the third and fourth years we test each others biomarkers. In the fifth year we use the biomarkers to test new treatments.

MARKVCID STUDY TESTING

• Biomarkers are collected at entry into the study that can

be used to predict future diagnoses.

• Patients undergo a clinical and neuropsychological

examination, a research MRI, and a lumbar puncture for CSF.

• The goal is to identify patients with inflammation that

have a progressive course.

• This is the optimal group for treatment trials once a

treatment to control inflammation is found.

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RESEARCH COORDINATOR ERIKA PARTRIDGE 505-272-7456 EPARTRIDGE@SALUD.UNM.EDU

UNM MAC Clinical And Research Team

UNM Clinical Group

• Jillian Prestopnik, PhD
• John Adair, MD
• Janice Knoefel, MD
• Jeffrey Thompson, BS

UNM NMR and MRN Imaging Group

• Arvind Caprihan, PhD
• Vince Calhoun, PhD

Biostatistician

• Erik Erhardt

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT: THE MEMORY CARE ALLIANCE THE MEMORY AND AGING CENTER AT UNM ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE DAVID DAVIS DDALZNM@GMAIL.COM