Would You Want to Know Your Alzheimer’s Risk?

With a noninvasive screening device now being tested, Alzheimer’s disease experts at Cedars-Sinai say early detection might offer chance of timely intervention. Their preliminary results suggest that optical imaging of beta-amyloid plaques in the retina may predict whether the disease is imminent and may possibly offer earlier detection than other methods. The researchers also are identifying possible risk factors and studying immune system modulation as a way to treat the disease. “We believe Alzheimer’s is a complex disease involving inflammation and the immune system. In preclinical studies, we’ve found that if we manipulate the inflammation in the brain, we can significantly slow disease progression,” says Keith Black, MD, FAANS, professor and chair of the department of neurosurgery at Cedars-Sinai. Click here to read the full article.