Approximately 1 out of 8 older Americans has Alzheimer’s disease. It is the most common form of dementia, and the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. In spite of extensive research and public attention, the disease still has no known cure or even an effective treatment, although there are drugs designed to counteract some of the symptoms. The total social cost of Alzheimer’s disease is difficult to determine, but 5.4 million Americans currently live with the disease, and the annual cost of directly related care is estimated to be approximately $200 billion, a figure that is expected to climb dramatically with the aging population.
One of the problems in working with Alzheimer’s is the fact that it involves subtle chemical processes deep within the brain. Beta-amyloid plaques, abnormal proteins that are associated with the disease, have traditionally required brain biopsy to detect with assurance. An easier, less invasive method for detecting such changes related to Alzheimer’s would prove of tremendous value, not only to researchers who could better track and analyze the disease processes, but also to patients and their families who could take the medical and other steps necessary to deal with it. It could also help avoid unnecessary treatment and care by differentiating Alzheimer’s from other diseases.
One of the greatest potentials for successfully identifying Alzheimer’s disease in its earliest stages rests with positron emission tomography (PET), a nuclear medicine imaging technology able to make visible hidden chemical processes within the body. FluoroPharma Medical, a developer of advanced medical diagnostic imaging tracer chemicals for use with PET, is currently working on an imaging agent, called AZPET, which seeks out and attaches to amyloid deposits in the brain, making them visible on a PET scan, allowing early detection of Alzheimer’s. It’s just one of the important tracer chemical products that FluoroPharma is currently developing. The company’s goal is to become the leader in the early detection of coronary artery and Alzheimer’s disease.
For more information, see the company website at www.FluoroPharma.com
Let us hear your thoughts below:
