newjerseynewsroom.com

BY CAROL ABAYA

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Two new tests to be available to the public in early 2013 will help identify Alzheimer’s at a very early state -- often before a person shows any symptoms.

Alzheimer’s is a non-curable, unstoppable disease that erases memory and leads to the inability to do any personal care chores. Inevitably it ends in death.

The 6th top killer, Alzheimer’s affects 54 million in the U.S. and more than 150,000 in New Jersey. A new case of Alzheimer’s occurs every 60 seconds.

A pioneer in Alzheimer’s research, Joel S. Ross, MD, FACP, AGSF, CMD, CPI, has been conducting Alzheimer’s research and clinical trials since 2000. He is founder and President of the Memory Enhancement Center in Eatontown, N.J.

Ross points out that none of the so-called Alzheimer’s drugs currently available change the progression of the disease. He also says that clinical trials of new drugs in the past few years have proved not to be effective and clinical trials of a couple of originally promising ones have ceased.

The Memory Enhancement Center (MEC) focuses first on identifying those with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). 50 percent of those diagnosed with MCI will develop full-blown Alzheimer’s, according to Ross. In addition, one-third of those over 70 have MCI.

Ross says that for 25 years gene tests have identified the Apoe4 gene. Research now indicates that those with the Apoe4 gene have a higher risk to develop Alzheimer’s. If a person does not have this gene, the Alzheimer’s risk is lower.

In 2013, those of the general public ages 67 to 83 years can be tested for this gene.

Recently the federal government approved another test which will identify the Alzheimer’s risk factor in younger adults and will be available to the public in early 2013. For those 45 to 65 years old and who have the Apoe4 gene or an Alzheimer’s family history, a PET scan will be used to identify Amyloid plague, a specific protein in the brain. Too much of this protein is an Alzheimer's indicator.

Ross says that if both the gene is present and the plague level high, Alzheimer’s in the future is “highly probable.” Ross says the earlier the gene and Amyliod plague factors are identified, the person can participate in new and on-going clinical trials of new drugs.

“Only through research may the disease be stopped,” Ross says, “We are actively seeking people who may already have MCI or early Alzheimer’s or those with a family history of Alzheimer’s or dementia.” According to Ross, current clinical trials will help identify those who may need help before they know they have high risk factors. “Once you have it, no one to date can stop it,” Ross says.

A clinical trial involves volunteers, various tests (including the gene and plague ones), and new drug treatment. There is no cost to the volunteer patient, and in some trails the volunteer/patient receives a stipend.

For more information, call Ross at 732-263-0101 or go to www.memorycenternj.com