Updated 10 April 2008

Important Notice: Alzheimer Research Forum does not provide medical advice nor promote any product or service. The contents are for informational purposes only and are not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek advice from a qualified physician or health care professional about any medical concern, and do not disregard professional medical advice because of anything you may read on this web site. The views of individuals quoted on this site are not necessarily those of the Alzheimer Research Forum.

OVERVIEW
We have developed this special section of the Alzforum website to provide a resource for all who share an intense interest in familial early-onset AD (eFAD). We have created this series of articles for patients, family members, doctors, and care providers, who need reliable, up-to-date information about diagnosis, treatment, genetic counseling and testing, and life issues connected with having this hereditary disorder. The Alzforum team would like to thank Randy Bateman, Deborah Blacker, Keith Johnson, Bill Klunk, Julie Noonan Lawson, Daniel Pollen, and Reisa Sperling for their support, advice, and review all along the way.

AD in Mid-life: For Those Who Have Given So Much, So Little in Return
What Is Early-onset Familial Alzheimer Disease (eFAD)?
Sidebar: How Early-onset Dementia Led to a Historic Discovery

DIAGNOSIS/GENETICS
Our Diagnosis/Genetics section explains what procedures to expect for a diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer disease. EOAD is often missed or misdiagnosed; we provide the story of one couple's experience. This section also describes the pros and cons of the different kinds of genetic testing available and present interviews with people who have opted for or against predictive testing. In addition, we provide a cautionary interview with a genetic counselor and a blueprint of an appropriate genetic counseling protocol that interested candidates should expect as they consider whether to take this step.

Diagnosis of Early-onset Alzheimer Disease
Interview: Pushing the Envelope on Early Diagnosis
Interview: A Diagnostic Odyssey
Genetic Testing and Counseling for Early-onset Familial AD
Sidebar: The Specter of Suicide
Sidebar: Taking the Plunge into Genetic Testing
Interview with Jennifer Williamson
Interview: One Man's Forward Approach
Protocol for Predictive Testing

RESEARCH
Our Research section includes essays on human studies of early-onset AD. One essay in this section illuminates some of the complex issues of drug research in AD. Two others articulate how early-onset AD families hold out the tantalizing prospect of moving drug research toward prevention of this disease, and what kind of observational clinical research could set the stage for eventual prevention studies.

Clinical Trials: Why Are eFAD Patients Excluded? Will That Change?
Drug Trials in Early-onset AD
Interview: A Spouse's Perspective on Clinical Trials for eFAD
Prevention—Do eFAD Families Hold the Key?
Devil in the Details—The Challenges of Prevention Trials
Sidebar: Prevention With Statins: Can the Brain Learn From the Heart?
Where to Turn for Research: Human Studies of eFAD

NEWS
Our News section includes an an index of prior Alzforum news stories relevant to early-onset forms of AD, and then list future EOAD-relevant news posted in the main news section.

PROFILES
Read interviews with EOAD family members, caregivers, counselors, and others working in this area.

Interview: A Diagnostic Odyssey
NPR Audio Interviews with Thomas Debaggio
Interview: A Courageous Family
Interview with Jennifer Williamson
Interview: One Man's Forward Approach
Interview: A Spouse's Perspective on Clinical Trials for eFAD
Interview: Q&A with Richard Bozanich
Interview with Lisa Genova

CLINICS
Use our Clinics Database to find clinics with expertise in early-onset dementias around the world.