Reducing the Stigma Attributed to Alzheimer's Disease is Vital to Clinical Research

ConclusionsThe study findings suggest respondents continue to have concerns about documentation in themedical record or test results, despite the fact that there are some protections in place against gene-based health care insurance discrimination through the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA). However, those concerns of the public also include issues not addressed by that legislation, including brain imaging results.The study authors found that when told the fictional person'sprognosis would improve over time, 24 percent to 41 percent fewer respondents expected that the person would encounter discrimination or exclusion than when told the person's prognosis would worsen. According to the researchers, this suggests that advances in therapies that improve the prognosis of Alzheimer'scould help reduce stigma."The unfortunate stigma associated with Alzheimer's may prevent people from getting the diagnosis they need or the opportunity for early intervention that could improve their quality of life.""We need to reduce the stigma to encourage persons with mild or even no symptoms of Alzheimer's disease to enroll in prevention trials to find effective treatments. These survey findings could also have implications on the national goal of developing an effective therapy by 2025." ~ said Maria C. Carrillo, Ph.D., Chief Science Officer, Alzheimer's Association.Alzheimer's Stigma, Glenn Campbell, Pat SummittDr. Carrillo stressedthe importance of early diagnosis...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - Category: Neurology Tags: alzheimer's stigma Alzheimer's Treatment alzheimers cflinical trials dementia care diagnosis memory testing Source Type: blogs