Department of Statistical Science
Duke University

presents:

David Wolfson
wolfson@stat.duke.edu
Duke Statistics
Duke University

"Assessing Decline in Alzheimer's Disease"

Abstract:

The pattern of deterioration in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) is highly variable within a given population. With recent speculation that the ApoE allele may influence rate of decline and claims that certain drugs may slow the course of the disease, there is a compelling need for a sound statistical methodology to address these issues. Current statistical methods for describing decline do not adequately take into account between-patient variability and fail to allow for uncertainty in disease onset. A hierarchical regression model with a change in slope is proposed as a means of overcoming these difficulties. The model is fit to two independent data sets as an illustration of the methodology.

February 28, 1997

4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

116 Old Chem Building

Any questions concerning the seminar may be addressed to Cheryl McGhee @ [919] 684-8029 or e-mail cheryl@stat.duke.edu. Please contact the author(s) directly for reprints etc.