Cure Alzheimer's Fund: Targeting Breakthrough Research

Boston - (June 2, 2010) – Cure Alzheimer’s Fund recently awarded the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) and the University of Houston a $150,000 grant to fund innovative research on Alzheimer’s disease, which currently affects 5.3 million Americans and their families and is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly. Tim Armour, president and CEO of Cure Alzheimer’s Fund (CAF) applauded the project and noted its novel approach to the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

Boston – Cure Alzheimer’s Fund recently awarded Dr. Nicholas Seeds, with the University of Colorado School of Medicine, a $100,000 grant for novel research on Alzheimer’s disease, which affects 5.2 million Americans and their families and is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly.

Boston -- A new approach developed for studying brain synapses has yielded valuable information about the production of Amyloid-Beta oligomers (clumps of the Abeta peptide) known to play a key role in the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Published in the March 17 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience and funded by Cure Alzheimer’s Fund (CAF), the research of Dr. Sam Gandy, Professor in Alzheimer’s disease Research at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and a member of the CAF research consortium, and his colleagues, could uncover a new lead in the fight for prevention of this devastating disease.

Boston—A new study published in Molecular Neurodegeneration unexpectedly showed that a retired Russian hay fever drug, Dimebon, which has shown promise in improving and stabilizing cognition in Alzheimer’s disease, has the surprising effect of increasing the levels of beta amyloid peptide, a molecule that is tied to the development of Alzheimer’s. Previous work aimed at treating or preventing the devastating disease has focused on lowering levels of beta amyloid peptide.   Funded by Cure Alzheimer's Fund, the new studies on Dimebon, which is produced by Medivation, Inc.

Washington, December 17, 2009 — President Obama this week signed a bill into law that includes funding to support the Boston-based Cure Alzheimer’s Fund’s efforts to find cure for Alzheimer’s disease. Submitted as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2010 by Sens. John Kerry and Paul Kirk, and Rep.

May Lead To New Treatments for Devastating Disease Chronic sleep deprivation in mice with Alzheimer's disease type changes makes Alzheimer's brain plaques appear earlier and more often, researchers lead by Cure Alzheimer's Fund's Dr. David Holtzman at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis reported online this week in Science Express.

Cure Alzheimer’s Fund Urges Congress to Pass Bill This FallBoston—Praising lawmakers for recognizing the importance of finding a cure for Alzheimer’s Disease, Cure Alzheimer’s Fund commended the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee for passing promising legislation with strong funding and language backing Alzheimer’s research.

Dimebon looks clinically promising in Russian study, now revealed to increase substance in brain implicated in disease causationNew findings, announced on July 15 at the Alzheimer's Association 2009 International Convention on Alzheimer's Disease (ICAD 2009) in Vienna, Austria, unexpectedly showed that the former hay fever drug Dimebon increases generation by the brain of the beta amyloid peptide, a substance implicated in causation of Alzheimer’s. A study from Russia, announced last year, suggested that Dimebon might improve and stabilize thinking ability in Alzheimer’s disease.

Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust announced today it has awarded a $300,000 grant to Cure Alzheimer’s Fund.

Annual Awards Support “Tomorrow’s Leaders in Alzheimer’s Disease Research;” Honor Legacies of Drs. George Glenner and Leon Thal April 9, 2008 – A coalition of leading Alzheimer’s disease organizations today announced the first three recipients of “Tomorrow’s Leaders in Alzheimer’s Disease Research” prizes; a new award mechanism to recognize outstanding young scientists in Alzheimer’s and dementia research.

The first family-based genome-wide association study in Alzheimer’s disease has identified the sites of four novel genes that may significantly influence risk for the most common late-onset form of the devastating neurological disorder.

Four novel genes that may significantly increase the risk of the most common form of late-onset Alzheimer’s have been identified by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, as reported in the November 7th issue of American Journal of Human Genetics. The findings, part of a larger “Alzheimer’s Genome Project” (AGP) established three years ago to identify the full set of Alzheimer’s disease genetic risk factors, may lead to more aggressive therapeutic interventions to slow, stop or even reverse the effects of the disease. These new therapies would differ from current treatments that only address the symptoms of the disease.

The award co-sponsored by the Cure Alzheimer's Fund and the Alzheimer's Association honors the legacies of two pioneering Alzheimer researchers, George G. Glenner and Leon J. Thal.

Map of Alzheimer’s Genes May Lead to Novel Therapies Dr. Rudolph Tanzi Speaks at International Conference on Alzheimer’s Breakthrough genetic research to map all the genes connected to Alzheimer’s, which could lead to more aggressive treatment and a potential cure for the disease, was the focus of a presentation by leading Alzheimer’s researcher Dr. Rudolph Tanzi at the International Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease (ICAD) in Chicago.

Washington, May 14, 2008 – Mapping the sequence of the genes susceptible to Alzheimer’s disease provides a novel avenue for potential treatment while also improving the ability to predict risk for Alzheimer’s early in life, Dr. Rudolph Tanzi, chairman of the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund Research Consortium, told the Senate Special Committee on Aging at a hearing today on the disease.

Mountaineer to Raise Awarness, Research Funding for Alzheimer's on Road Back to Everest Boston - Embarking on a yearlong challenge that he hopes will end at the top of Mt. Everest, mountain climber Alan Arnette will take on a greater challenge along his journey, raising money for research and public awareness of Alzheimer’s disease.

In an effort to support the next generation of leading Alzheimer's researchers, the Cure Alzheimer's Fund has joined with the Alzheimer's Association and the Lou Ruvo Brain Institute to create and fund a new "genius grant" for young Alzheimer's researchers.

The Cure Alzheimer's Fund released the following statement on new research linking Alzheimer's disease risk to stroke published in Neuron on June 7, 2007.

Washington – With more than 5 million Americans now living with Alzheimer’s disease, a 10 percent increase since 2002, medical researchers are in a sprint to map and sequence the genes susceptible to Alzheimer’s in hopes of leading to more aggressive therapeutic interventions to slow, stop or even reverse the effects of the disease.

Washington – In recognition of his groundbreaking genetic research and outstanding leadership and commitment to finding a cure and better treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, Dr. Rudolph Tanzi received the 2007 Ronald and Nancy Reagan Award at the Alzheimer’s Association’s National Gala this week.

Boston – Massachusetts General Hospital (MassGeneral) has honored Cure Alzheimer’s FundTM for its leadership, entrepreneurial philanthropy and investment in research projects that have the highest probability of slowing, stopping or reversing Alzheimer's disease. The first annual Award for “Philanthropic Innovation and Investment” was presented to the Fund by MassGeneral’s Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, at a ceremony at Massachusetts General Hospital on Friday, March 2.

First-of-its-Kind Online Resource (ww.alzgene.org) Offers Researchers an Extensive Database of Studies on the Genes Associated with Alzheimer's Risk Boston, MA – AlzGene, a web-based clearinghouse for researchers working to unlock the genetic makeup of Alzheimer’s Disease, has been launched as a way to gather and analyze studies by and for investigators around the world.

Fast-Track Research Effort Hopes to Map Genes Affecting Risk for Alzheimer’s Disease within 18 Months Is A Cure Around the Corner? Private-Venture Philanthropy Model Changing the Face of Medical Research BOSTON – On the eve of the 100th anniversary of the discovery of Alzheimer’s disease, medical researchers are in a sprint to map and sequence the genes susceptible to Alzheimer’s, leading to more aggressive therapeutic interventions to slow, stop or even reverse the effects of the disease. It is a race that must be won in the next few years if we are to save up to 16 million baby boomers from the devastation of the disease, says Dr.

Massachusetts to Face 40% Increase in Alzheimer’s Cases by 2050 Dr. Rudolph E. Tanzi, Ph.

Massachusetts to Face 40% Increase in Alzheimer’s Cases by 2050 Dr. Rudolph E. Tanzi, Ph.

64% Increase in Cases Expected by 2025 World-Renowned Harvard Alzheimer’s Doctor Discusses Latest Research for Finding a Cure for Alzheimer’s in North Sewall’s Point North Sewall’s Point, FL --- Up to 16 million Americans could have Alzheimer’s disease by the year 2050 if a prevention or cure is not found during the next few years was the key message of a presentation by Dr. Rudolph E. Tanzi, Director of the Genetics and Aging Research Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, this past weekend at the North Sewall’s Point home of Phyllis and Jerry Rappaport, one of the founder’s of the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund.