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Issue 52 | May 2009
CSIRO's biomedical imaging team is developing
image processing algorithms to characterize
Alzheimer's disease using quantitative biomarkers.
Here a method to compute cortical thickness
(colour coded) shows how the disease induces atrophy
in two typical participants of the AIBL study.
Image courtesy of AIBL
CSIRO recognises the importance of studies like the report Access Economics recently released, Making Choices – Future Dementia Care: Projections, Problems and Preferences, for it informs planning in strategic research.
The leader of dementia research at the Preventative Health Flagship, Cassandra Szoeke, says the report highlights the challenge the nation faces with the number of dementia sufferers predicted to double to 465 000 by 2030.
'About 80 per cent of dementia in Australia is caused by Alzheimer's disease', says Cassandra. 'Early diagnosis is crucial if we are to begin managing this crisis more effectively.
'By the time sufferers show symptoms of memory loss, severe irreversible brain cell death may have already occurred.
'In Australia, every week another 1000 people are being diagnosed with dementia. It is only by early diagnosis that treatment can be effective, preserving memory and brain.
'With the initiation of the Australian Imaging, Biomarker and Lifestyle cluster study, the combined institutions have potentially brought forward the detection of Alzheimer's disease by 18 months'.
'Early detection can not only aid with future treatment options but it can also help with the planning and delivery of dementia care services in Australia', she says.
Released early last week, the Access Economics report also found that investment in dementia research is a key strategy for addressing the epidemic.
'There is no question that research is the key to reducing the burden of the disease on the community for the future and CSIRO and its partners will continue to seek effective, new approaches to prevention, diagnosis and treatment of these diseases', says Cassandra.
* The Australian Imaging, Biomarker and Lifestyle Flagship Study of Ageing is a collaboration initiated by the CSIRO Preventative Health National Research Flagship. AIBL is a joint activity between the Flagship, the University of Melbourne, Edith Cowan University - Western Australia, Neurosciences Australia, the Mental Health Research Institute of Victoria and the National Ageing Research Institute.
