The Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD) was funded by the National Institute on Aging in 1986 to develop standardized, validated measures for the assessment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The present report describes the measures that CERAD developed during its first decade, and their continued use in their original and translated forms. These measures include clinical, neuropsychological, neuropathological and behavioral assessments of AD, and also assessment of family history and parkinsonism in AD. An approach to evaluating neuroimages did not meet the standards desired. Further evaluations which could not be completed because of lack of funding (but where some materials are available), include evaluation of very severe AD, and of service use and need by patient and caregiver. The information that was developed in the U.S. and abroad permits standardized assessment of AD in clinical practice, facilitates epidemiological studies, and provides information valuable for individual and public health planning. CERAD materials and data remain available for those wishing to use them. KeywordsConsortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease; CERAD; Alzheimer's disease; clinical assessment; neuropsychological assessment; neuropathological assessment; norms; prevalence; incidence BackgroundDementing disorders have long been recognized, 1 with the identification of Alzheimer's disease (AD) typically dated back to Alzheimer's century-old paper. 2 Although considerable attention has been paid to Alzheimer's disease and substantial progress has been made in identifying its characteristics, nevertheless much remains unclear. As diagnostic procedures improve, the complexities of this disease become more apparent, and the threat it imposes becomes increasingly evident. In the population 65 years of age and older, both the incidence and prevalence of this disorder double every succeeding five years, 3 with estimated prevalence as high as 40% among those over the age of 85. AD, not recognized as a leading cause of death in 1980, was recognized as the fifth leading cause of death in 2003 among persons 65 years of age and older. 4 There is presently no cure and inadequate amelioration for this condition. It can not only strip personality and capability, but is demanding on family members, seriously disrupting their lives and their work. It is expensive for the long term care system, where about half of the residents may suffer from dementia, a substantial proportion of whom can no longer afford their own care. Although people are now reaching their older years in better health, 5,6 it remains to be seen whether there will be a decrease in the incidence of AD. Currently the fastest growing element of the population is among those 85 years of age and older, the age group where the incidence of AD is greatest.A major step in the management of a disease lies in accurate diagnosis. Relevant to current work, clinical diagnostic criteria for dementia and AD were specified about 25 years ago, and the...

We consider these deficits the result of the high frequency of frontal lobe deficits incurred by children with SCD. Recommendations include the use of tests designed to measure attention and executive functioning as a way of screening children with SCD for possible CNS pathology. We also suggest that future research examine the mechanism underlying frontal lobe involvement for individuals with SCD.

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Sonohysterography has become the standard test in the evaluation of dysfunctional uterine and postmenopausal bleeding because it allows reliable differentiation between focal and diffuse endometrial and subendometrial lesions, with the most common being polyps and submucosal fibroids. An endometrial polyp usually appears as a well-defined, homogeneous, polypoid lesion that is isoechoic to the endometrium with preservation of the endometrial-myometrial interface. Atypical polyps have cystic components, multiplicity, a broad base, and hypoechogenicity or heterogeneity. Submucosal fibroids are usually broad-based, hypoechoic, well-defined, solid masses with shadowing and an overlying layer of echogenic endometrium that distorts the endometrial-myometrial interface. Atypical fibroids are pedunculated or have a multilobulated surface. The major advantage of sonohysterography is that it can accurately depict the percentage of the fibroid that projects into the endometrial cavity. Endometrial hyperplasia usually appears as diffuse thickening of the echogenic endometrial stripe without focal abnormality, but occasionally focal hyperplasia can be seen. Endometrial cancer is typically a diffuse process, but early cases can appear as a polypoid mass. Adhesions usually appear as mobile, thin, echogenic bands that bridge a normally distensible endometrial cavity, but occasionally thick, broad-based bands or complete obliteration of the endometrial cavity is seen. Although endometrial lesions have characteristic features, a wide range of appearances is possible, with significant overlap between entities. Radiologists should be familiar with the broad spectrum of findings that may be seen at sonohysterography in both benign and malignant processes to raise the appropriate level of concern and to direct the clinician toward the appropriate means of diagnostic biopsy or surgery.

Characteristics of pediatric aneurysms include diversity of type, increased incidence in the posterior fossa, peripheral location, and large size. CT, MR and MRA are useful in the diagnosis with conventional angiography essential for preoperative planning.