Dean Sherzi, MD on BrainBlogger.com:

Numerous studies show promise in the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease in animal models, but invariably fail in humans. However, time after time, lifestyle changes have been shown to alter the course of illness in large population studies. My interview with Dean Sherzai, MD, PhD, director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Prevention Program at Cedars-Sinai, aims to shed light on preventing Alzheimer’s Disease with both therapeutics and lifestyle modifications…

Shaheen Lakhan: What are the most promising technologies/therapeutics for dementia prevention, early detection and treatment?

Dean Sherzi: Many different avenues are being explored. Researchers at Cedars-Sinai will be investigating two drugs already on the market for other conditions, and we are studying ways to spur the immune system to help fend off Alzheimer’s.

In the area of early detection, several innovative approaches have been proposed. One noninvasive, relatively inexpensive technology, pioneered at Cedars-Sinai and now in clinical trials in the U.S. and Australia, is believed to detect Alzheimer’s-associated changes in the retina at the back of the eye even before they develop in the brain. If the device receives Food and Drug Administration approval, it could offer an easy, painless, widely available, early detection screening, which in turn could lead to early intervention with lifestyle modifications and eventually medications to stop or slow the disease.

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