Alzheimer's- Can what we read really be true? Megan Crilly

I think the best part of this assignment was the fact that I researched the same topic and got two different responses from two different resources. I found an article at Science Daily, an online science research provider who reported on an new finding that can lead to scientists detecting Alzheimer's through a blood test before the patient experiences symptoms. They say that due to early detection of the disease can lead to a better chance of fighting the disease.
Here is the website:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080909094743.htm

I then went to www.abc.com where I found the same topic, but covered very differently. They acknowledge that there was a small breakthrough where researchers had found that the levels of the peptide, Amyloid Beta 42 (Aß42), was a common thread with all the patients studied. However they don't see it becoming an actual test for Alzheimer's. They have many so called experts that are not specified as how they are experts, that agree it is not a reliable test. to tell if this will actually indicate the chances of someone getting Alzheimer's.
Here is the article:
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/ActiveAging/story?id=5754705&page=1

Now for a little extra: both articles mentioned the same place where the information was found; The Proceedings for National Academy of Science:
http://www.pnas.org/content/105/20/7327.full?sid=047c59ff-d8db-4bd9-b9c0-28d10998ebbe

In this review of the study, it says that it was tested on lab rats and for the most part, ABC was closer when saying this cannot be a reliable test to determine if someone is more likely to have Alzheimer;s, but it did shed insight on what is happening in the body that is infected with Alzheimer's disease.

After doing this assignment, I have realized how important it is to find the article from multiple sources to see who is giving you accurate information as well as accurate interpretations of the facts. So, in conclusion, the discovery that if peptide levels are high, you are more likely to have Alzheimers, it is not reliable enough to make a definite answer to someone who comes into the doctor's office asking. So in conclusion, the discoveries made in this recent experiment were some what ground breaking, it is merely a step in the right direction. It isn't a definite test to see if someone has a higher risk of having Alzheimer's but it will help scientists understand this mysterious disease. Secondly, always check the sources your source uses. These findings will give more specific information and facts so that you can come up with your own interpretations instead of relying on just one person's interpretations.