A: A bold prediction, but it is based on carefully collected information from several studies of different populations. Also, the understanding of Alzheimer’s disease has been progressing more and more rapidly. The pieces are clearly coming together to show us a way to decrease the risk or prevent this disease, at least for most cases, soon.

Q: What led you to start planning an End Alzheimer’s campaign?
A: Current treatments appear to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, and the earlier in the disease the progression is slowed, the better. We also saw that most patients were getting diagnoses late in the illness. So, we started developing screening tests for Alzheimer’s disease. We started the campaign to get people interested in screening for early Alzheimer’s disease.

Q: How did you get hooked up with Paul Costa and the iBA?
A: I met Paul through Henry Bowles, of Bowles-Langley technology. Actually, Dr. Ted Langley knew Paul. We all got together to develop a screening test for detecting Alzheimer’s disease.

Q: How will you gauge the success of this endeavor?
A: I see the effort to lead people toward leading healthier lives. We will all grow old, but if we can see a decrease in the demand for nursing home care, that will be an early indication of our success.

Q: How do you expect to “build” the End AD campaign?
A: Our group is beginning by developing a screening test for Alzheimer’s disease, keeping the records of the test in a protected electronic-medical record, then offering information and recommendations to those that are concerned about preserving their memory or are worried about memory losses.

Q: Are you involved in the iBA providing the HIPAA compliance service?
A: HIPAA compliance is a critical issue for the present. We are all trying to understand the requirements of HIPAA and ensure that we meet them.

Q: What is your strategy to help make the EATF, the BLT-A Memory Test, and the iBA and iBN stand out as their own recognizable brands that people will respect and use?
A: To stand out, the EATF will have to link with the numerous other sources of Alzheimer information on the Internet and show that it can play a collaborative role in educating the world about Alzheimer’s disease. The BLT-A Memory Test will become recognizable slowly as the medical and popular community realizes how fun and useful the test it. The iBA and iBN are going in the direction that the whole Internet is going, so supporting the flow information is all they need to keep doing to succeed.

Q: Due the sluggish economy for the past two years and predictions of more of the same for the near future, isn’t this a crazy time to be doing an Internet startup?
A: The first decade of the 21^st century is the time of transition of medicine to electronic and computerized information. This project is doing the right thing at the right time.

Q: How much will you rely on partnerships with other companies to get the campaign off the ground?
A: My hope is that we will establish partnerships with the academic and pharmaceutical communities to provide them with a better testing method for their studies.  Poor assessment of dementia severity is one of the critical weaknesses of studies in Alzheimer’s disease. The same tests will also be greatly appreciated by the medical community and insurance companies. Groups of concerned consumers, including the Alzheimer’s Association and AARP, will hopefully realize the utility of our test and Web site soon.