Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia

Alzheimer disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. There are no available treatments that stop or reverse the progression of the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death. There are currently no specific markers that can confirm with a 100% certainty AD diagnosis. A combination of brain imaging and clinical assessment checking for signs of memory impairment is used to identify patients with AD. Definitive diagnosis can only be only obtained after patients autopsy by examining brain tissues. There is a clear need for tangible advances in the area of biomarkers for assessment of risk, diagnosis and monitoring disease progression. Screening of patients still remains very expensive and new research is necessary to develop non expensive and reliable tests. Continuing efforts are still required. This includes developing medicines that would slow progression, halt, or prevent AD and other dementias from occurring. Current studies are currently underway to identify biomarkers for diagnosis and new therapeutics to prevent or slow down disease progression. Consortia of top-level European research and industrial partners will need to act in this direction and contribute to strengthen the EU’s leadership on Alzheimer disease research. Dementia is a syndrome characterized by disturbance of multiple brain functions, including memory, thinking, orientation, comprehension, calculation, learning capacity, language, and judgment. Consciousness is not clouded. The impairments of cognitive function are commonly accompanied, and occasionally preceded, by deterioration in emotional control, social behavior, or motivation. The innovations in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease are explored in Neuro Forum 2023.