Most Accurate Diagnostic Test for Alzheimer's

2009 Alzheimer's disease Facts and Figures, reported seventh leading cause of death is Alzheimer's. In 2006, estimated 26 million people worldwide diagnosed with Alzheimer's and 100 million potential new cases by 2050. Alzheimer's currently irreversible progressive brain disease, linked to accumulation of amyloid plaques between nerve cells (neurons) in the brain. Normally in a healthy person, protein fragments called Beta amyloid in the brain are broken down and eliminated. "In Alzheimer's disease, the fragments accumulate to form hard, insoluble plaques." The disease deteriorates memory recall, thinking skills and everyday normal ability to perform simplest tasks (symptoms of dementia) steadily declines. During the final stage of Alzheimer's communication no longer exists, patient requires bed care, and organ functions shut down.

Currently, diagnosis of Alzheimer's based upon cognitive tests, probability of having this disease. Conclusive diagnosis of Alzheimer's: Post - mortem autopsy or brain tissue biopsy. Bayer Health Care Pharmaceuticals Inc. conducting clinical tests, regarding the efficacy and safety of florbetaben (Bay 94 -9172): Detect beta- Amyloid plaques during a positron emission tomography (PET) examination (Non-invasive imaging technology of both anatomy and metabolic activity).

More than 50% Alzheimer's disease occurs by 85 years or older, compared to those less than 85 years old, less likely diagnosed with the disease. Genetic factors increase the risk getting Alzheimer's by fifty percent. "However, 2% - 5% of patients develop the disease in the fourth or fifth decade of life (40's and 50's)". Researchers have no conclusive explanations, except theories why Beta - amyloid plaque accumulates in the brain, who have Alzheimer's. In mice studies, beta - amyloid plaque accumulated when mice were deprived of sleep for three weeks, maybe linked to synaptic activity of the brain.

In 2009, during the 19th World Congress of Neurology (WCN) Bayer HealthCare presented results of global Phase Two study of florabetaben: Image tracer injected prior to undergoing a positron emission tomography (PET) test for accumulation of cerebral beta - Amyloid plaques. Florbetaben binds to amyloid plaque in the brain, providing a trace for observing the plaque accumulation, as a diagnostic tool utilizing PET imaging scan. Conclusion of phase two study: Florbetaben diagnosed eight out of ten cases among participants of the study for Alzheimer's or accumulation of beta - Amyloid plaques in the brain. Among healthy volunteers of the study, nearly ten percent had trace levels of Amyloid - plaque accumulation. Phase three study planned for late 2009, further examine the efficacy and safety of the tracer element among 400 individuals: "Both volunteers without dementia and patients with dementia will be included, therefore enrolling subjects with either a high probability of cerebral beta - Amyloid deposition (e.g. subjects with AD) or low probability of cerebral beta - Amyloid deposition (e.g. non-demented volunteers.)". After results have been reviewed, pharmaceutical company seeks Food and Drug Administration approval for more accurate test for Alzheimer's disease. Phase three Study expected to be completed and reviewed by histopathology (microscopic examination of tissue) examinations before 2014.

Douglas Stefenelli, Vice President and General Manager, Diagnostic Imaging, Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals said: "We are pleased that with the initiation of the florbetaben Phase Three clinical trials Bayer is moving forward on the development of a diagnostic tool has the potential to enable a more definitive and earlier diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.".

When Alzheimer's disease is diagnosed sooner, medication more effectively delays debilitating cognitive impairment: Aricept, Razadyne, Namenda, and Exelon manage but do not cure Alzheimer's. Also, early diagnosis of Alzheimer's provides necessary time to make decision, regarding financial and health care provisions.

Expected future development Florbetaben provide new treatment for Alzheimer's.

References:

1.) Alzheimer's Facts and Figures - http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_facts_figures.asp

2.) Plaques and Tangles - http://www.ahaf.org/alzheimers/about/understanding/plaques-and-tangles.html

3.) Alzheimer's Disease Fact Sheet - http://www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/Publications/adfact.htmhttp://www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/Publications/adfact.htm

4.) Alzheimer's Disease - http://www.medicinenet.com/alzheimers_disease/article.htm

5.) Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals commences enrollment in florbetaben Phase Three clinical trials - http://www.news-medical.net/news/20091130/Bayer-Healthcare-Pharmaceuticals-commences-enrollment-in-florbetaben-Phase-III-clinical-trials.aspx

6.) Bayer Advances on Alzheimer's Plan - http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Bayer-Advances-on-Alzheimers-zacks-3117991418.html?x=0&.v=1

7.) Could Sleep Disorders Contribute to Alzheimer's? - http://www.dana.org/news/features/detail.aspx?id=23908

8.) Bayer Healthcare presents Florbetaben Phase Two study results at World Congress of Neurology - http://www.biovalley.ch/content.cfm?nav=4&content=10&command=details&id=11907

9.) Bayer starts Phase Three study for Alzheimer Test - http://sg.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/20091130/tbs-bayer-7318940.html

10.) Bayer Starts Phase III Trial With Florbetaben - http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/172520.php

11.) Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Initiates Phase III Trial with Florbetaben PET Tracer for Imaging of Cerebral beta-Amyloid Plaques, a Pathological Hallmark of Alzheimer's Disease - http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/1792047/bayer_healthcare_pharmaceuticals_initiates_phase_iii_trial_with_florbetaben_pet/index.html?source=r_health

12.) Early Alzheimer's Diagnosis - http://www.livestrong.com/article/23619-early-alzheimers-diagnosis/?utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=ssp&utm_campaign=yssp_Articles