World Alzheimer Experts to share Exciting Discoveries and Chart Course for the Future

Alzheimer's Association
Wednesday, 26 September 2001

Thousands to Convene in Stockholm, July 20-25, 2002

Leading Alzheimer researchers from all over the world will meet in Stockholm, July 20-25, 2002, to examine what we have learned about this devastating disease and focus attention on the extremely important work that remains to be done.

"Anyone who has come face-to-face with Alzheimer's knows what a dreadful impact it has on people with the disease and their loved ones," said Alzheimer's Association President and CEO Alan J. Stone. "We must dedicate all the resources necessary to unravel the mysteries of Alzheimer's disease and to develop effective treatments and eventually a cure."

The 8th International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders will be the world's largest research forum on dementia and will include many of the international pioneers who are contributing to one of the most challenging fields in neuroscience.

Four million people have Alzheimer's disease in the United States alone and the number may be as high as 12 million worldwide. By 2050, the number of people with the disease in the U.S. could skyrocket to 14 million and around the world to 45 million.

"We are facing a global Alzheimer epidemic and it is only through science and research that we can avoid the awful emotional and financial consequences it causes," said William Thies, PhD, Alzheimer's Association vice president of medical and scientific affairs. "The thousands of participants at the International Alzheimer Conference all share a powerful commitment to eradicating this disease in our lifetime."

This potentially historic conference will include the very latest results of more than 1000 studies in Alzheimer research and more than 120 speakers from 19 countries.

Plenary speakers include Marilyn Albert, PhD, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA (Preclinical Prediction of Alzheimer's); Carol Brayne, MD, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England (Epidemiology); John Hardy, PhD, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida, USA (Genetics of Alzheimer's and Related Dementias); and Philip Scheltens, MD, PhD, VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands (Neuroimaging).

Symposium presenters include Steven DeKosky, MD, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA (Future Strategies in Treatment); Timo Erkinjuntti, MD, PhD, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland (Vascular Cognitive Impairment); Sue Griffin, PhD, Veteran's Affairs Medical Center, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA (Cytokines in AD); Ronald Petersen, MD, PhD, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA (Clinical Challenges in Diagnosis and Management); and Leon Thal, MD, University of California, San Diego, California, USA (Issues in Treating Dementia).

For more information, or to contact Alzheimer's Association, see their website at: www.alz.org