Alzheimer’s Disease is the Sixth Leading Cause of Death Overall in the United States
Michael Weiner, MD, University of California, San Francisco & Internationally Recognized Alzheimer’s Expert
(San Francisco, CA, Thursday, June 7, 2018) – Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth leading cause of death overall in the United States and affects more than 5 million Americans. According to experts, this number could triple to nearly 16 million people by 2050.
A scientific study focused on early detection of Alzheimer’s disease and tracking it over time is currently taking place across the country. The prestigious “ADNI Study” (Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative), funded by the National Institutes of Health, is one of the largest and longest running Alzheimer’s disease research initiatives in history. The study seeks healthy volunteers without memory problems, as well as people who have mild memory problems, and those who have been diagnosed with mild dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease.
Dr. Michael Weiner, internationally recognized Alzheimer’s expert, explains the study.
SOUNDBITE #1:
WE ARE STUDYING HOW QUICKLY THINGS LIKE REASONING AND THE ABILITY TO PERFORM CERTAIN FUNCTIONS CHANGE IN THE AGING BRAIN THROUGH COMPUTER TESTS AT HOME AND IN A DOCTOR’S OFFICE. RESEARCHERS NEED TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE DISEASE PROGRESSION IN ORDER TO SPEED THE PACE OF DISCOVERY IN THE RACE TO PREVENT, TREAT AND CURE ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE.
SOUNDBITE #2
IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT MORE PEOPLE GET INVOLVED IN THE FIGHT AGAINST ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE, WHICH AFFECTS NEARLY ALL OF US IN SOME WAY. TODAY’S TREATMENTS AND CURES FOR DEBILITATING AND LIFE-THREATENING ILLNESSES, LIKE ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE, EXIST MAINLY BECAUSE OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE VOLUNTEERED TO PARTICIPATE IN CLINICAL STUDIES.
For information, visit adni3.org.