Thursday, August 6, 2009

new and quicker diagnostic test for Alzheimer's


This was just published in the British Medical Journal and reported on Medscape. This new test, according to the Medscape article , "is quick to use, examines ten different skills and reportedly detects 93% of Alzheimer's disease." The usual test given is known as the "Mini Mental State Examination" (MMSE) is only sensitive in 52% of cases. A nurse without experience working in memory clinics was able to evaluate the test as accurately as a specialist.

Worldwide 24 million people have dementia and it is estimated that the prevalence will double every 20 years. There is much that can be done to prevent Alzheimer's. More on that later.

No comments: