Experts Urge Family Members and Friends to Seek Immediate Intervention for Their Loved Ones Who May Have Alzheimer's Di...(/p Having these important discussi...),Health

Having these important discussions with doctors and family members may also help adults more confidently ease into a new role as caregiver. When AD is diagnosed early, caregivers have more time to plan for the future, including getting financial and legal documents in order, investigating long-term care options, and determining what services are covered by health insurance and Medicare.

Gail Hunt, president and CEO, National Alliance for Caregiving; and member of the ADSDG, said, "Getting an initial AD diagnosis can be distressing, but for a caregiver, the journey has only begun. The use of the online tools can help people continue conversations with friends and family to seek support, with doctors to track the progression of the disease, and with the advocacy community to access local resources."

About the Alzheimer's Disease Screening Discussion Group (ADSDG)

The ADSDG is a multi-disciplinary panel of experts sponsored by Eisai Inc. and Pfizer Inc that first convened in November 2007 to debate the value of early AD detection and routine screening. In 2008, the group commissioned the U.S. national survey, "Alzheimer's Disease: Current Attitudes, Perceptions and Knowledge." ADSDG members include:

• Dr. Paul R. Solomon, professor, department of psychology and program in neuroscience, Williams College, MA; clinical director, The Memory Clinic, Bennington, VT
• Dr. Richard Stefanacci, founding executive director, Institute for Geriatric Studies, Mayes College of Healthcare Business & Policy, University of the Sciences
• Dr. Barry W. Rovner, director, clinical Alzheimer's disease research at the Farber Institute for Neurosciences, and professor of psychiatry and neurology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia
• Dr. Yanira Cruz, president and CEO, National Hispanic Council on Aging

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