CAF's Rudy Tanzi interviewed about new Alzheimer's study
Written by Eva Monday, 21 September 2009 19:00
Yesterday, we posted about a new study showing that more than 35 million people worldwide are living with Alzheimer's Disease and other forms of dementia.
Cure Alzheimer's Fund's Rudy Tanzi, who is recognized as a leading expert on Alzheimer's Disease, was interviewed by Boston's NECN TV about the report and its implications. He stressed the critical importance of increased research funding to stop this disease.
Watch the interview here:
New Report: 35 million suffer from dementia worldwide - projected to reach 115 million by 2050
Written by Eva Sunday, 20 September 2009 19:00
Today is World Alzheimer's Day, and the big news of the day is a report from Alzheimer's Disease International, which paints a grim picture of the future if this devastating disease goes unchecked. The report says that currently 35 million people worldwide suffer from Alzheimer's Disease - and that number is expected to double every twenty years, reaching 115 MILLION Alzheimer's and dementia sufferers by 2050.
Here's an excerpt from the report:
Not only are the numbers reason for concern, but Alzheimer's disease and dementia have an enormous impact on societies; it can be called an epidemic that is increasing its pace with the "graying" of the population around the world. Poor recognition, underdiagnosis and stigma cause significant problems for people with dementia and their families in countries of all sizes and communities of all income levels.
The ADI report also highlights the financial costs of dementia, which were estimated to be over $300 billion in 2005 alone. These costs, currently borne mostly in the developed world, are also expected to skyrocket together with global rates of the disease. Already, the costs of caring for Alzheimerís and dementia patients consume over one quarter of the US Medicare and Medicaid budgets. If left unchecked, Cure Alzheimer's Fund's estimates suggest they could single-handedly bankrupt Medicare and Medicaid within the next decade.
We are dedicated to ensuring that this grim picture does not come to pass. We've made tremendous progress already, and we are working to find a cure by 2020. But to get there, we need your continued support. Please donate to help us find a cure and stop this devastating disease.
Rockstars of Science Hit Capitol Hill
Written by Eva Wednesday, 16 September 2009 19:00
Over the summer, we told you about an exciting honor for one of our lead researchers, Dr. Rudy Tanzi. Along with other leading scientists including NIH Director Francis Collins, Dr. Tanzi was named as one of GQ Magazine's "Rockstars of Science".
What is a "Rockstar of Science", you might ask? They're the doctors and researchers who are accelerating treatments and cures "from research bench to bedside". GQ brought together a star-studded list of musicians (like Aerosmith's Joe Perry, will.i.am, and Sheryl Crow) and scientists (like Dr. Tanzi, Sam Gandy, and Francis Collins) for a fun and impactful photo shoot and feature story.
And, next week, Dr. Tanzi, Director Collins, and Joe Perry of Aerosmith are taking the "Rockstars of Science" campaign to Capitol Hill to talk about the importance of research funding for curing diseases like Alzheimer's. And they are going to play!
If you're in the DC area, don't miss this great event! If not, check back here next week for video and highlights.
11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. ∙ Capitol Visitors Center Auditorium
Special Appearance: Aerosmith’s Joe Perry Tribute to Congressional Champions of Research
Moderated by: Terry Moran of ABC News’ Nightline
For more information, click here.
To RSVP for this free event, click here.
European Consortium proposes three new genes!
Written by Eva Wednesday, 09 September 2009 19:00
by Rudolph E. Tanzi, Ph.D.
Two new genome studies from Europe have proposed three additional genes that may influence risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD). The gene findings are the result of a large consortium study conducted in Europe and add further support to the role of beta-amyloid in AD. While the three new genes exert only minor effects on AD risk (decreasing or increasing risk by only 15-20%), they should be helpful when combined with the roughly 100 genes previously identified in the Cure Alzheimer's Fund Alzheimer's Genome Project (AGP) for furthering our understanding of this disease. The new genes as well as the dozens of others identified over the past two decades are summarized on Cure Alzheimer's Fund-supported online Alzheimer's gene encyclopedia and database, AlzGene.org.
The initial publication of the results of Cure Alzheimer's Fund’s AGP (Bertram et al., 2008), was named by Time magazine as a "Top Ten Medical Breakthrough of 2008". The updated list of now over 100 genes that influence risk for AD from the AGP and other's studies, including the three described in the two new reports from the European Consortium, join the four previously established AD genes discovered between 1987 and 1995, three of which were co-discovered by Cure Alzheimer's Fund Research Consortium Chairperson, Dr. Rudy Tanzi of Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital. The combination of all of these genes will be invaluable in driving our progress toward a cure for AD.
At Cure Alzheimer's Fund, we believe that AD will ultimately be conquered by a combination of "early prediction" and "early prevention" of this devastating disease . In both cases, we need to know the complete set of genes that influence one's risk for AD. The complete battery of AD genes will someday be used to both predict one's lifetime probability of getting AD, and to guide research aimed at obtaining a clearer understanding of the causes of AD and developing effective new therapies for AD.
In summary, while the three new AD genes described in the two new European studies exert only modest effects on AD risk, when added to the roughly 100 other AD genes previously identified in the Cure Alzheimer's Fund AGP and other AD genetic screens, we will hopefully move a step closer to our ultimate goal of beating AD with "early prediction-early prevention.”
Rudolph E. Tanzi, Ph.D.
Joseph P. and Rose F. Kennedy
Professor of Neurology,
Harvard Medical School
Director, Genetics and Aging Research Unit, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease Massachusetts General Hospital
114 16th Street Charlestown, MA 02129
(T) 617-726-6845 (F) 617-724-1949
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