Cure Alzheimer's Fund: Targeting Breakthrough Research

A Better Way to Look for Diseases’ Genetic Roots

Written by Katie Barr Tuesday, 26 January 2010 17:05

If you haven’t checked out Nicholas Wade’s piece in today’s New York Times, you should. The prominent science writer has taken on the traditional method of gene hunting, claiming there may be a new, arguably more successful, way to look for diseases’ genetic roots -- the very research strategy conducted by the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund since our inception in 2004.

Having developed increasingly sophisticated approaches to Genome Wide Association Screens (GWAS) Cure Alzheimer’s Fund supported researchers have been arguing that the common method of gene hunting is flawed or at least insufficient -- that it is the common variants that may actually be pointing to the rare mutations responsible for diseases such as Alzheimer’s. It’s this research focus that has allowed us to develop our roadmap to a cure, something that has made us truly unique among other research organizations. A key paper on this topic titled, "Genome-wide association studies in Alzheimer’s disease" was published recently in the journal Human Molecular Genetics by Cure Alzheimer’s Fund supported researchers Lars Bertram and Rudy Tanzi.

Wade’s piece references Dr. David B. Goldstein, a Duke geneticist who believes that genome-wide association studies may have taken significant time and resources, but were vital to providing the science community with “next steps.”

Goldstein, like our very own Rudy Tanzi, believes that finding even a few rare variants could point to genes that make potential targets for drug makers, accelerating the developments of effective therapies.

It appears where the traditional method of gene hunting has failed to identify the right genes, the rare variants just might.

Click on the link below to read the full article: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/26/science/26gene.html

CBS Poll: Nearly 50% of Americans Concerned about Alzheimer’s

Written by Katie Barr Friday, 22 January 2010 16:04

According to a recent CBS poll, nearly half of Americans are concerned they will one day suffer from Alzheimer’s disease -- a fear that will only continue to grow until we find a cure for this devastating disease.

As the baby boomers reach the age of retirement, we are seeing a rapid increase in Alzheimer’s. Over 5 million Americans currently suffer from this disease and that number is expected to rise to as many as 16 million by 2050.

But there is hope. The CBS poll claims that 54% of Americans expect a cure to be found in their lifetime and we know they’re right -- we can find a cure in the next 10 years.

By following our roadmap to a cure, we have continually funded research with the highest probability of slowing, stopping or reversing Alzheimer’s and 2010 will be no exception. In the coming months, our research consortium will explore some of the most critical questions that remain in Alzheimer’s pathology, embarking upon an aggressive research agenda that truly makes us unique.

Stay tuned this year as we continue to update you on all the exciting developments happening at Cure Alzheimer’s Fund!

Check out the CBS poll to learn more:

Support Cure Alzheimer’s Fund in the Inaugural “Running 4 Answers” 4-Mile Race!

Written by Katie Barr Friday, 08 January 2010 09:26

For far too many of us, Alzheimer’s is a cause that is deeply personal. One such woman is Carolyn Mastrangelo.

Carolyn’s mother has suffered from early onset Alzheimer’s for over 10 years. A personal trainer and avid runner, Carolyn wanted to incorporate her love of running and apply it to raising funds and awareness of this devastating disease. To do just that, she joined forces with her friend and fellow runner, Barbara Geiger, to create the inaugural “Running 4 Answers” 4-mile run to benefit Cure Alzheimer’s Fund!

Carolyn and Barbara picked the title “Running 4 Answers” because they understand all too well the devastating effects of Alzheimer’s and the growing need for answers. Every 70 seconds another American gets Alzheimer’s disease -- that’s 35 million people worldwide! We must find a cure, and soon.

Events like “Running 4 Answers” go a long way in helping us spread awareness and reach our goal of curing Alzheimer’s in the next 10 years! Thank you, Carolyn and Barbara!

Join us on April 10th as we participate in the “Running 4 Answers” race through beautiful Roseland and Essex Fells, NJ. If you would like to be a race sponsor, make a donation, become a volunteer or run in the inaugural race, visit www.running4answers.org!

Study Sheds More Light on Abeta's Impact on Alzheimer's -- Research Funded in Part by Cure Alzheimer’s Fund

Written by Katie Barr Monday, 04 January 2010 09:43

A new study, funded in part by Cure Alzheimer’s Fund, is shedding more light on amyloid beta’s (Aβ) impact on Alzheimer’s disease.

If you regularly read our blog, you know that studies suggest that Aβ contributes to the early stages of Alzheimer’s (Aβ plays a key role in early synaptic failure which is commonly associated with memory dysfunction), but very little is known about Aβ's effect on the plasticity of dendritic spines.

The plasticity of dendritic spines is important because these spines provide memory storage and transmit signals across the brain, actions which require the ability to change and grow.

The study, led by Cure Alzheimer’s own Dr. Roberto Malinow, found that Aβ affects structural and functional plasticity -- preventing synapses from growing bigger and stronger. In fact, if Aβ is over-produced, its destructive effects can affect thousands and thousands of synapses.

Malinow and his team discovered that a continuous release of Aβ is needed to prevent plasticity so even a short period of time without Aβ secretion is enough to allow plasticity to occur -- a positive sign if scientists learn how to stop the secretion of Aβ at synaptic sites.

Want to learn more about this study? Check out Science Daily for additional details:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091228152352.htm