TeachableMedicalNews article 05312021
Teachable moment in classrooms:
- brain chapter – locations of storing short and long term memory in the brain
- nervous system chapter – functioning of neurons
- introduction to the human body chapter – basics of PET scan technology
The news item: Recently the availability of a blood test for Alzheimer’s disease was reported:
First blood test to help diagnose Alzheimer’s goes on sale
How is Alzheimer’s diagnosed? New blood test to help diagnose Alzheimer’s is not approved by the FDA.
The article states that this test is the first commercially available blood test for Alzheimer’s disease, and that it is a more practical alternative to the PET scan, but the test is not officially approved by the FDA, and the accuracy is still under study. The article also states that the test, developed by the company C2N, measures amyloid and other protein.
So, Why Do I Care?? There are more than 6 million people afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease in the US. This number will increase as the proportion of older people increases in the US. Early detection of this disease could allow the implementation of preventative strategies such as changes in lifestyle, or even new medications. Therefore the development of a blood test for early diagnosis is an exciting development, despite the fact that the accuracy of this test needs to be fully proven.
Plain English, Please!!! First, let’s talk about what Alzheimer’s disease is. Dementia type disorders result in the loss of memory, the ability of the patient to recall names or past events. Alzheimer’s disease is a form of dementia disorders; most people with dementia suffer from Alzheimer’s. Because the storage