The South Carolina Alzheimer's disease patient registry: A progress report

Abstract

In April1988, the American Health Assistance Foundation in Rockville, Maryland, provided major funding to establish a registry of persons in South Carolina who have been diagnosed with dementia, particularly Alzheimer's disease (AD). This funding was matched by the state Health and Human Services Finance Commission, and with supplemental funding from the Association of Schools of Public Health, and the Centers for Disease Control. The goals of the registry are as follows:

* To collect and report annual prevalence and incidence data;

* To assess and to project required health and human services resources;

* To study genetic transmission patterns;

* To provide a sampling frame for etiologic studies.

The first year experience of this project is described, with recommendations for future development.