4. The Search for Other Clues that May Contribute to Prevention Strategies

Investigators are pursuing still other strategies that may eventually help to prevent or delay AD. For example, they are trying to discover whether changes in certain biological compounds in blood, urine, or cerebrospinal fluid could indicate early AD changes in the brain. Understandingmore about these biological markers, how they work, and what causes their levels to change is important in helping scientists answer questions about what makes AD begin and develop. Learning more about these markers also may help scientists track whether certain medications are having their intended effects and may some day lead to new prevention strategies.

One major effort involves the use of imaging techniques, such as MRI and positron emission tomography (PET), to measure brain structure and function. An NIA public-private partnership —the AD Neuroimaging Initiative—is a large study that will determine whether MRI and PET scans or other imaging or biological markers can be used to identify early AD changes and disease progression. One day, these measurements may be able to identify those people who are at risk of AD before they develop symptoms. The measurements may also help physicians assess the response to treatment much more rapidly and less expensively than is possible today. To learn more about the Neuroimaging Initiative, visit the NIA’s Alzheimer’s Disease Education and Referral Center (ADEAR) at www.alzheimers.nia.nih.gov or call the ADEAR Center toll-free at 1-800-438-4380.

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