Imagining the Work of the Brain: Neuroethics 2005
The VII Annual Swedish Symposium on Biomedicine, Ethics and Society was held on May 13-14 2005 in Sandhamn.
Early Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease: Ethical and clinical consequences
Lars Lannfelt, MD, Professor, Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Rudbeck Laboratory, 751 85 Uppsala
Abstract of presentation
The last 15 years have seen considerable advances in our understanding of the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. This rapid development started when the amyloid ß-peptide (Aß) was found in plaques and vessel walls in Alzheimer's disease brains. Through studies of families with inherited forms of the disease, the metabolic disturbances leading to Alzheimer's disease are being identified. In hereditary forms of the disease predictive genetic testing is sometimes possible, and this was performed for the first time in Sweden. The increased knowledge of the disease might lead to a situation where our ability to diagnose also common forms of the disease in preclinical stages will increase considerable, while novel treatments take longer time to develop. The ethical and clinical consequences of this will be discussed.
