alzheimers news-a good ideas

ALZHEIMERS NEWS-A GOOD IDEAS

the bad beta amyloid accumulates in the brain as alzheimers disease progresses
it can be detected in the brain by doing a pet scan of the brain called
the amyvid scan

one problem is that medicare and insurance do not pay for it
it costs between $3500-$5000

you can do like i did
join a study that does the scan for free
i chose a study that will tell me whether its positive or not
then if positive then i get treatment

other studies will do one but you cant get the results
that happened to me in the adni 2 study i was in
but
i signed the waiver saying i understood thats what would happen

so where does this amyvid scan fit in memory evaluations

if you have gone through
a good neurology history and physical
a battery of dementia labs like cbc chemistry profile tsh vitamin b12 eg
a good thorough memory testing
a mri of the brain
then
you might consider an amyvid scan if there is uncertainty of the diagnosis
or
like me you just want as much information as possible
to make lifes decisions

there is a study that will do them for free
its called the ideas study
Imaging Dementia—Evidence for Amyloid Scanning (IDEAS) Study
dont you just love those acronyms

basically
you have to have the right diagnosis
you have to be seen by an approved by the study dementia specialist
then
if they feel you qualify
you go to an approved radiological center that does the amyvid scan
then
you go back to your approved dementia specialist to review
the amyvid scan

the study is sponsored by the alzheimers association   the american
college of radiology networks   the drug companies that make the scan
material   cms the medicare folks

they are trying to determine if the use of the amyvid scan is useful
in the workup of a patient with memory loss
and
whether it makes a difference in the long run

when treatments become available
that answer will probably be definitely its useful

for me it is helpful
since i want to know as much as possible so i can make lifes decisions

now
i will know here probably in the next week if mine is positive or not

i was working towards getting into this ideas study
since i wasnt sure if i would get in the study i am in now
the aducanumab study

since i just had mine this week in that study
i will be able to make those lifes decisions soon

so if you are interested in pursuing getting a free scan done
here are links

a review of the study

a list of clinics or private doctors that are in the study in texas and elsewhere

a list of sites where the scans are being done
its under pet facilites in the same list as the physicians list above

just make sure you understand what the results mean
for your particular case

for me
it gives me a more final picture of whether my diagnosis
is correct or not
if its positive
i continue on my present path
maybe having to make some social decisions to get ready
for whats not too far away
unless of course this aducanumab stuff works

if its negative
well
i will have to rethink a lot of things
do i really have alzheimers disease
do i need medicine at all now

thats why some of you might consider getting in this study
or even paying for it yourself
maybe your diagnosis is wrong or maybe its correct

i wish you the best

the organicgreen doctor