Survey Reveals Attitudes towards Alzheimer's Diagnosis and Treatment

In a five-country survey, respondents expressed strong support for increasing government spending for research on new treatments for Alzheimer's disease.

A survey reported this week at the Alzheimer's Association? International Conference 2011 (AAIC 2011) in Paris reveals that while people fear Alzheimer's second only to cancer, the overwhelming majority would go to the doctor, or take a loved one for evaluation, if they saw symptoms of memory loss and confusion.

Concerns that people with early symptoms of Alzheimer's might not seek medical evaluation, and thus miss opportunities for early detection and medical intervention, led Alzheimer Europe to survey the public about their attitudes and beliefs concerning the disease.

Data reported at AAIC 2011 are derived from a five-country survey conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health. The study was supported by a grant to Alzheimer Europe from Bayer. A total