$50 Million Infusion Into Alzheimer's Research in 2012

DETROIT (WWJ) - The White House says it will pump $50 million more into Alzheimer's research this year.

Neurologist Dr. Mark Silverman of Providence Park Hospital in Novi hopes the money goes toward developing ways to catch the disease early.

"It's really important that people get diagnosed early on. We have treatments now that help early on in the disease. The unfortunate part is that many people don't get diagnosed until they have at least moderate and sometimes even  severe symptoms and at that point there is really not, as far as significant treatments, that we can offer," said Silverman.

Silverman says the medical community is bracing for an influx of new Alzheimer's Patients as Baby Boomers age.

"We need more research to determine who is at risk. We are looking for patients who have certain proteins, and are at a higher risk of developing dementia, so that we can be more proactive in treating those patients," Silverman said.

Read more from CBS Healthwatch here.