Diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease early is key to helping delay onset and manage the disease.
The Center for Biomedical Research is the first in the state of Tennessee to be approved for participation in a clinical trial known as the Imaging Dementia—Evidence for Amyloid Scanning, or IDEAS—study. The study will assess the clinical usefulness when amyloid plaques. Amyloid plaques are an indicator of potential Alzheimer’s and are discovered in those with mild cognitive impairment or dementia for which the cause is uncertain. In addition to assessing the impact of amyloid PET on management of patients, the study will compare medical outcomes for study participants with matched patients not in the study.
For patients who qualify for the study, Medicare covers the approximately $4,150 cost. These patients have the opportunity not only to contribute to development of best practices in Alzheimer’s care, getting an early PET scan “might be a game changer” in terms of receiving the best care, said Dr. Monica Crane. Crane is a fellowship-trained geriatric medicine specialist experienced in treating Alzheimer’s and dementia. She recently established the Genesis Neuroscience Clinic—her office is located in the same building as Provision Health and Fitness. She came from the University of Tennessee to expand her private practice. She seeks to holistically serve patients and families dealing with a variety of brain diseases.
“We know so much now about how to address dementia with drugs or lifestyle treatments in order to provide the best quality of life and delay onset of more serious symptoms,” she said. “But it’s important to know what disease we are dealing with. Just as with cancer care, knowing the disease determines how we treat it. You are treating the pathology, not just the symptoms.”
Admission into the study and the recent establishment of the Genesis Neuroscience Clinic along with the Genesis Brain Health Institute, which provides a program focused on bolstering brain health, Provision is expanding beyond cancer care and into a much broader realm of health diagnostic and treatment services.
“With experts like Dr. Monica Crane providing medical services here, we are now a premiere center for brain health in Knoxville and the region,” said Scott Warwick, Provision Healthcare vice president for strategic initiatives and program development.