Background: Clinical positron emission tomography (PET) may help in the evaluation of presenile patients with memory complaints for the presence of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Methods: Clinical PET scans from 27 patients with clinically probable AD and early ages of onset (<65 years) were compared to PET scans from 27 age-matched controls presenting with memory complaints, but without dementia or mild cognitive impairment. Results: Compared to controls, the AD patients had significant frontal, temporal and parietal hypometabolism bilaterally, and AD diagnosis correlated with left temporal and right temporoparietal hypometabolism. The sensitivity of temporoparietal hypometabolism for AD was 92.6%, the specificity 85.2%. Conclusion: Clinical PET imaging helps distinguish early-onset AD from patients with memory complaints not meeting criteria for dementia or mild cognitive impairment.

It is well known that providing care for a loved one with memory problems puts a person at risk for both mental and physical health problems. In the last several decades, research on chronic stress suggests that the body's physical response to stress becomes severely dysregulated as a result of chronic stress lifestyles such as caregiving. This dysregulation may be the causal factor in caregivers' increased physical and mental health risks. This paper attempts to outline the mechanisms of one major physiologic system involved in the body's stress response, explaining how it can be used to monitor the efficacy of stress management interventions. The research leads to the conclusion that well-planned stress management interventions can effectively reduce the effects of chronic stress among caregivers.

This paper provides an empirical and conceptual rationale for the relative advantages of psychoeducational programs versus support groups for caregivers of people with dementia. The need for interventions that improve the well being of caregivers is well documented. We reviewed studies that have directly compared support‐based and psychoeducational interventions. Two major strengths of psychoeducational interventions are their emphasis on training caregivers in a variety of cognitive and behavioral skills for coping with caregiving, and their adaptability to caregivers from diverse backgrounds. We present an overview of how caregiver training can be tailored to suit individual needs. Specific examples for working with ethnically diverse caregivers are also offered. Finally, recommendations for the translation of psychoeducational research to clinical practice are provided.