Jan. 17, 2008 The latest medications can delay the onset of
Alzheimer’s disease, but none are able to reverse its
devastating effects. This limitation often makes early detection
the key to Alzheimer’s patients maintaining a good quality of
life for as long as possible. Now, a new device developed by the
Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University may allow
patients to take a brief, inexpensive test that could be
administered as part of a routine yearly checkup at a doctor’s
office to detect mild cognitive impairment (MCI) — often the
earliest stage of Alzheimer’s. The device is expected to be
commercialized later this year. Current assessment tests capable
of detecting early Alzheimer’s typically are taken with a pen
and paper or at a computer terminal and last about an hour and a
half. They must be given by a trained technician in a quiet
environment, because any distractions can influence the
patient’s score and reduce the test’s effectiveness. Because of
their length and expense, the tests are no