According to the article, since the disease was discovered in 1906, scientists have been looking for new methods to detect its presence earlier in patients. This is because the disease begins taking its toll on the brain a full 10 to 15 years before the first symptoms begin to develop. By that point, however, most Alzheimer's sufferers have already had between 40 and 50 percent of their brain cells damaged or destroyed, severely affecting their memory and cognitive ability.

"With the increase in our average longevity, the probability of suffering from Alzheimer's disease has gone up until it has become a reality for everyone," remark doctors at Ventre Medical Associates. And while a full cure for the disease has yet to be discovered, these doctors point out that "early detection of the disease can slow down the progression and provide for a better quality of life."

While Alzheimer's disease does leave behind certain hallmarks of its presence, these are not so easily detected. Current medical scans are able to detect potential cases of the disease, but as of yet none of them are able to conclusively confirm its presence. The only sure way that modern science has of confirming an Alzheimer's diagnosis is through invasive procedures such as brainbiopsies and spinal fluid examination. These methods are used in autopsies to confirm diagnoses of the disease, but obviously prove less useful for those potentially living with it.

However, says the article, researchers from the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles have recently discovered a potential new way to detect one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease, beta amyloid proteins. These proteins gradually accumulate into sticky plaques in the brains of those suffering from the disease.

According to this new research, the amount of this protein present in the brain of an Alzheimer's sufferer closely correlates with the amount present in their retina back of their eye.

Based on these new findings, the researchers then devised a noninvasive test that can check the retinas of patients for the presence and levels of these beta amyloid proteins. Those who show particularly high levels would prove more at risk for the disease, thereby making early detection easier.

This trial is still in the clinical testing phase and is not yet available for practical use. However, the doctors at Ventre Medical Associates have high hopes that this and similar breakthroughs may mean that doctors are one step closer to conquering Alzheimer's disease.

ABOUT:

Based out of the Fort Lauderdale, FL area, Ventre Medical Associates is a professional mental health clinic that does extensive work with clients ranging in age from the very young to the very elderly. Their psychiatrists specialize in treating a wide range of issues and illnesses, including Alzheimer's disease, anxiety disorders, different forms of psychosis, and substance abuse. They also do extensive work both with local area hospitals and with many pharmaceutical research companies.