Behavioural Neurology: An International Journal with an Emphasis on Lesion and Imaging Studies that Explore Abnormal Human Cognition and Behaviour

by Hillis, Argye Beth

• ISBN13: 9781607500667
• ISBN10: 1607500663
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-11-01
• Publisher: IOS PRESS INC

Summary

With diagnosed cases of Alzheimer s Disease (AD) currently around five million in the US, and the number expected to rise to 16 million within the next 50 years, US Medicare and Medicaid are facing a tripling of healthcare costs. The prevalence of AD doubles the older the population becomes, so the longer we live and longevity is increasing worldwide the more this age-related disease will impact our societies. Merely delaying the onset of AD by five years would produce a 50% decrease in prevalence and spare millions of people the suffering caused by this devastating disease. To effectively target prevention therapies at the pre-clinical stage of the disease, we must develop biomarkers which accurately predict future dementia. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) offer great promise as biomarkers for identifying underlying structural, functional and disease specific pathology in AD, MCI and related disease processes. In this volume, imaging experts from around the world review the latest developments in this field, as well as presenting original work, with the collective conviction that neuroimaging will be of crucial importance in tackling this globally pervasive disease.