Issues in the development of a clinical database on Alzheimer's disease

The diagnosis and assessment of Alzheimer's disease is rapidly becoming a major focus of study within the aging population. The increasing proportion of older adults in the United States and the lack of knowledge concerning the causes of Alzheimer's disease have contributed to this increased need for further study. This paper describes a pilot project aimed at regional databases on Alzheimer's disease. The project description also is intended to illustrate the use of a structured systems approach to the system development process.