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FDA Consumer magazine
July-August 2003 Issue
In 1907, Alois Alzheimer, a German neurologist known for his efforts to unravel the mysteries of mental illness, described the case of a 55-year-old woman with severe memory loss, language problems, paranoia, agitation and difficulty moving.
Alzheimer examined the woman's brain tissue after her death. He found accumulations of protein that have since become the markers of a cruel disease that starts with simple forgetfulness and progresses to severe mental decline and death.
Alzheimer, known for his ability to teach and to express complex material simply through words and drawings, stressed the need to study the physiology of the brain in order to grasp the psychiatric implications.
A century later, scientists are making use of the latest imaging technologies to unlock the secrets of Alzheimer's disease and are looking into its potential prevention. For example, high levels of intellectual and physical activity seem to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's. Research continues on a number of fronts, including causes, treatments, risk factors, and identifying the disease in its early stage with an eye toward improving outcomes.
An estimated 4 million Americans have Alzheimer's, with about 360,000 new cases reported each year. More women than men are affected. In upcoming decades, the number of people with Alzheimer's and the cost of caring for Alzheimer's patients are likely to skyrocket with the aging of the baby boomer generation. For more on this devastating disease that poses a huge emotional and financial burden on those who have the disease and their families, see our cover story titled "Alzheimer's: Searching for a Cure."
According to the Institute of Medicine, over 1 million Americans are injured each year in adverse events involving medical products. In 2002, the FDA received reports of 111,000 adverse events, including deaths and serious injuries, related to medical devices.
The FDA regulates nearly 2,000 categories of medical devices, ranging from latex gloves to heart pumps. The FDA is working to design its regulatory requirements so that manufacturers keep the needs of patients and other users in mind during the design process. For more on the agency's efforts to protect consumers who use medical devices, see our feature article, "FDA Works to Reduce Preventable Medical Device Injuries."
More than 1 million Americans are diagnosed with cancer each year. Two federal agencies--the National Cancer Institute and the FDA--recently announced a collaboration of researchers and regulators aimed at speeding the delivery of new cancer drugs to patients who need them. For more on the joint effort, see our article.
We also take a look at the renewal of an effort to improve the health of Hispanics and an agreement by the American Red Cross to improve the way it stores and keeps track of blood.
Ray Formanek Jr.
Editor