What is mild cognitive impairment and how does it differ from Alzheimers disease?
AD is an irreversible disorder of the brain, robbing those who have it of memory, and eventually, overall mental and physical function, leading to death. It is the most common cause of dementia among people over age 65, affecting an estimated 4.5 million Americans. MCI differs from both AD and normal age-related memory change. People with MCI have ongoing memory problems but not to the point where their impairment interferes significantly with daily activities. What are biomarkers and why are they important in this study? A biomarker is a biochemical indicator that can be used to measure the progress of disease or the effects of treatment. High cholesterol levels, for instance, are a biomarker for heart disease. PET scans of people with AD show that glucose in certain parts of the brain is metabolized at lower levels than in healthy people, and previous studies have shown that low glucose metabolism can be seen in some people even before noticeable symptoms of memory loss occur. Other
