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New Research Shows Aspect Medical Systems' Brain Monitoring Technology Correlates With Measures of Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia

Posted on: Monday, 20 June 2005, 09:00 CDT

-Research Presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference on Prevention of Dementia-

Research from studies conducted at UCLA, McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School and the Cardiovascular Specialists in Cape Cod, Mass., demonstrated that Aspect Medical Systems' (NASDAQ: ASPM) brain-monitoring technology identified patients at varying stages of Alzheimer's disease and correlated with the severity of their dementia. Study findings were presented today at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference on Prevention of Dementia, being held in Washington, D.C. from June 18-21, 2005. Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia, afflicts approximately four million people in the United States.

Findings from three studies were included in the presentation. The studies collectively examined 111 patients ranging in age from 61 to 90, including 84 healthy subjects, 16 patients with mild Alzheimer's disease and 11 patients with moderate Alzheimer's disease. Cognitive function of healthy subjects was evaluated quarterly over the course of one year using Aspect's brain monitoring technology and two standard tests -- the Mini Mental State Evaluation (MMSE) and the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog).

Using a sensor placed on the patient's forehead, Aspect's technology translates information from the electroencephalogram (EEG, or brain waves) into a single number that represents a level of cognitive function. Data from these studies showed that a high number indicated healthy cognitive function, while lower values correlated with the severity of the disease. "These findings are important in that they indicate that Aspect's brain monitoring technology has the potential to assess brain function in a reliable and reproducible way, and to provide a more objective measure of thinking and memory than can be obtained from rating scales over the range from normal aging through severe dementia," said Dr. Andrew Leuchter, professor of Psychiatry at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA, and chair of Aspect's neuroscience advisory board.

Scott Greenwald, Ph.D., vice president of research at Aspect, commented, "While further investigation is needed, the data suggests that we may be able to identify the onset of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia and track the progression of the disease over time. With this information we envision creating an easy-to-use, in-office diagnostic tool to help doctors identify patients with degenerative disease in its early stages, track disease progression, and monitor the effectiveness of drug therapies."

About Aspect's Neuroscience Division

Aspect's Neuroscience Division was founded to expand upon the company's expertise in brain monitoring to improve patient care for people suffering from neurologically-based diseases such as major depressive disorders and Alzheimer's disease. The company recently entered into a $25 million strategic alliance with Boston Scientific to support the development and commercialization of neuroscience-related products - with the initial emphasis on a product for the depression market. More information about Aspect's Neuroscience Division can be found at http://www.aspectmedical.com/professionals/neuroscience/.

About Aspect Medical Systems, Inc.

Aspect Medical Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: ASPM) is a global market leader in brain monitoring technology. Aspect's BIS technology directly measures the effects of anesthetics and sedatives on the brain. To date, BIS technology has been used to assess more than 11.3 million patients and has been the subject of approximately 1,800 published articles and abstracts. BIS technology is installed in approximately 38 percent of all domestic operating rooms and is available in more than 160 countries. Aspect has OEM agreements with seven leading manufacturers of patient monitoring systems. The Company is also investigating how other methods of analyzing brain waves may aid in the diagnosis and management of neurological diseases, including depression and Alzheimer's disease. For more information, visit Aspect's web site at http://www.aspectmedical.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

Certain statements in this release are forward-looking and may involve risks and uncertainties, including statements with respect to the Company's ability to successfully develop a diagnostic tool to help doctors identify patients with degenerative disease in its early stages, track disease progression, and monitor the effectiveness of drug therapies. There are a number of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements. For example, the Company may not be able to successfully develop products for the diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases, achieve widespread market acceptance of any such products that it may develop or to compete with new products or alternative techniques that may be developed by others. There are additional factors that could cause the Company's actual results to vary from its forward-looking statements, including without limitation those set forth under the heading "Factors Affecting Future Operating Results" in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended April 2, 2005, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, any forward-looking statements represent the Company's views only as of the date of this press release and should not be relied upon as representing the Company's views as of any subsequent date. While the Company may elect to update forward-looking statements in the future, it specifically disclaims any obligation to do so, even if its expectations change. Therefore, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing the Company's views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.

Aspect, Bispectral Index and BIS are registered trademarks of Aspect Medical Systems, Inc. All other trademarks, service marks and company names are the property of their respective owners.

Source: Business Wire

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