Alzheimer’s Association Commemorates 20 Years of Progress, Sees Dramatic Breakthroughs Ahead

Alzheimer's Association
Monday, 3 November 2003

The Alzheimer's Association said today that tremendous progress has been made in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the disease in the 20 years since President Ronald Reagan designated November as National Alzheimer's Disease Month.

"The emotional, financial, and social consequences of Alzheimer's disease are so devastating it deserves special attention. Research is the only hope," the former President said 20 years ago this month.

"Ronald and Nancy Reagan have dramatically changed the face of Alzheimer's by raising public awareness and boosting research efforts," said Sheldon Goldberg, President and CEO of the Alzheimer's Association. "The past 20 years have produced tremendous progress and have laid the foundation for major breakthroughs in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment in the years ahead."

Working collaboratively, the federal government, the Alzheimer's Association, and the pharmaceutical industry have made great research advances over the past 20 years. These include:

• Improved diagnostic tools for Alzheimer's disease. Improved assessment tools help providers diagnose people with more than 90 percent accuracy. Sadly, in the past an accurate diagnosis was only possible after performing an autopsy.
• Identification of genes that may place people at increased risk for Alzheimer's disease. Until recently, we knew almost nothing about the genetics of Alzheimer's. Now, scientists have identified genes that indicate increased risk for both early and late onset forms of the disease.
• FDA approval of four medications that can improve symptoms of mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. These drugs work by raising levels of a brain chemical known as acetylcholine. For people with Alzheimer's, the cells that use acetylcholine are damaged or destroyed.
• The recent FDA approval of memantine, which treats symptoms of moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease. This drug introduces a new class of medications that blocks glutamate, a brain messenger chemical. At normal concentrations, glutamate plays a key role in learning and memory. Subnormal glutamate levels interfere with learning and memory, while excess glutamate "overstimulates" the cell, leading to cell death.
• The study of the "amyloid hypothesis." In Alzheimer's disease, plaques made up of beta-amyloid protein fragments develop in areas of the brain related to memory. Many researchers believe the build-up of beta-amyloid plaques is a central feature of the disease; it is currently the primary focus of research into the causes of Alzheimer's.
• The search for an "Alzheimer's vaccine." Preliminary research studies point to immunotherapy, a treatment that stimulates the body's immune system, as a potential approach to preventing and treating Alzheimer's.
• Increased knowledge of the risk factors for Alzheimer's disease. In addition to known risk factors including age, family history and genetics, substantial new research points to disorders such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Factors that cause strokes and heart disease are also increasing the risk for developing Alzheimer's.

When President Reagan launched National Alzheimer's Disease Month, fewer than two million Americans had the disease. Today, the estimated number of individuals with Alzheimer's has more than doubled to 4.5 million. By 2050, 11-16 million people will likely have Alzheimer's.

Alzheimer's disease is not a normal part of aging. It is a brain disease that results in impaired memory, thinking and behavior. By 2010, Medicare spending on Alzheimer's will be $49.3 billion (a 54 percent increase over 2000) and Medicaid costs will rise to $33 billion (an 80 percent increase).

"This disease exacts a devastating toll on millions of people and many more family members and caregivers," said Goldberg. "In order to avoid a national epidemic and a severe economic blow to our healthcare system, we must strengthen our commitment to finding a cure for this disease."

The Alzheimer's Association is the largest private source of funds for research, enabling scientists to pursue a broad spectrum of treatments and interventions for all stages of the disease. The Alzheimer's Association is also working with Congress to increase federal funding for research from the estimated $640 million the National Institutes of health will spend in 2003 to $1 billion annually.

"Alzheimer's Association support of basic science research has generated important insights into virtually every promising therapeutic avenue," said Sam Gandy, M.D. Ph.D., Vice Chair of the National Medical and Scientific Advisory Council of the Alzheimer's Association. "Scientists are now exploring new ways to slow the progression of the disease and prevent it."

In addition to its commitment to research, the Alzheimer's Association works through a nationwide network of chapters that offer information, assistance and support to those affected by Alzheimer's. The network consists of the national headquarters in Chicago and 81 chapters nationwide as well as 180 regional centers.

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