MINNEAPOLIS, January 2, 2008—The Alzheimer’s Disease Screening Discussion Group is encouraging all people 65 years or older to request memory screenings from their physicians.

The influential group has compelling figures on their side, according to a St. Paul Pioneer Press story. The number of Americans with Alzheimer's is expected to quadruple to 8 million by 2030. Early screening would allow many to begin mental exercises and drug therapies that may delay the onset of dementia.

No one denies that an explosion of new cases is not occurring, according to the group. So it makes little sense to delay taking action that can delay treatment.

It is hardly the only effort to increase screening — three Twin Cities hospitals are testing screening on all elderly patients they admit, the article noted.

But the discussion group's proposal is controversial —- it calls for a sweeping and expensive step that leaps ahead of actual data.

In 2003, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force determined there isn't enough evidence to support or oppose routine screening. The task force is the nation's authority on screening tests for primary care doctors.

While screening patients who are forgetful or confused is appropriate, the article said, there is no proof that screening all seniors is worth the risks or the substantial costs to the U.S. health care system.

Critics of the proposal point out that the discussion group is sponsored by Eisai and Pfizer, drug companies that make two of the four widely used prescriptions for Alzheimer's. Doctors in the group also received financial support from these companies for their research and lectures.

Complete Pioneer Press story