The contradictory nature of new studies and approaches to fight Alzheimer’s disease can be mindboggling. Just as a new approach seems to show great promise, follow up information can seem to throw cold water on it, diminishing the promised results. Case in point: on April 9, 2012 a Wall Street Journal online article announced that the FDA has approved a test a that detects protein levels in the brain indicating Alzheimer’s disease.
The test uses a chemical developed by Eli Lily, combined with a PET scan. The article says that “...a chemical called florbetapir, known by the brand name Amyvid, which is a radioactive agent that tags clumps of a sticky substance called an amyloid...hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease. The chemical…then is detected using a brain imaging technique called positron emission tomography, known as PET scans.”