Center for Alzheimer Disease and Related Disorders

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Alzheimer Disease: Environmental Risk & Protective Factors and Early Intervention & Treatment -- Tuesday, May 13, 2008

What is the SIU Center for Alzheimer Disease and Related Disorders (CADRD)?

The SIU Center for Alzheimer Disease and Related Disorders (CADRD) was established in 1987 when the Illinois legislature mandated two regional Alzheimer disease assistance centers. Of the two centers established as a result, CADRD serves rural Illinois, a total of 93 counties. The second, Rush Medical Center, serves the greater Chicago area (Cook county and the 8 collar counties). A third center, Northwestern Alzheimer's Disease Center was added through legislation in 1997 and also serves the greater Chicago area.

The Center was designated by the National Parkinson Foundation in 1999 as a Parkinson Disease Center of Excellence. Doctors working at CADRD study and treat patients suffering from Parkinson disease, and devote considerable time and effort to the study of other disorders affecting older people, including locomotor disorders (gait disturbances) and tremor.

CADRD:

• Provides clinical services to patients and their families
• Supports research through a brain bank autopsy program
• Provides educational services to both medical professionals and lay persons
• Coordinates a network of Primary Provider sites to serve Illinois

What is Alzheimer Disease?

Alzheimer disease is a progressive, degenerative disease. It causes abnormal proteins to accumulate in and around nerve cells throughout the brain, causing them to die. Loss of nerve cells results in memory loss, impaired thinking and behavior, and finally, death. Alzheimer disease affects an estimated 4 million Americans, most over the age of 65, but a few in their 40s and 50s. Patients with Alzheimer disease may live 2-20 years after contracting the disease, and in the final stages of the illness, they lose all abilities to care for themselves. Although many cases of Alzheimer disease are hereditary, the precise cause of this illness is unknown.

What is Parkinson Disease?

Parkinson disease is a slowly, progressive, degenerative disease. It causes loss of nerve cells affecting coordinated function of the individual's muscles and movement, which may cause tremor at rest, slowness of movement (bradykinesia), rigidity or stiffness of the limbs and trunk of the body, and impaired balance or postural instability. Parkinson disease affects over 1 million people in the United States, an estimated 1% of Americans over the age of 60, with perhaps 5 to 10% of all people with Parkinson disease diagnosed prior to age 40. Although some cases of Parkinson disease may be hereditary, the precise cause of this illness is unknown.

How does CADRD serve Illinois?

CADRD works with 28 hospitals, clinics and mental health centers throughout Illinois. These Primary Providers evaluate patients according to established guidelines. A centralized computer database for research and for tracking patients is maintained at SIU School of Medicine, located in Springfield. A news article from the SIU Focal Point is here.

Faculty

• Tom Ala, MD, Interim Director
• Rodger J. Elble, MD, PhD
• Greg Kyrouac, MSEd
• Curt Moore, MBA
• Ann Popovich, MA
• Robert Struble, PhD
• Charlene Young, BSN, MSN
• Ronald F. Zec, PhD
  

How to Reach CADRD

By Phone:

(217) 545-8249

By Fax:

(217) 545-1903

By Mail:

PO Box 19643
Springfield, IL 62794-9643

Return to top | To list of Primary Providers | Parkinson Center main page | Neurology main page

For comments or questions contact: Greg Kyrouac