Alzheimer's Association International Conference Provides Hope to Millions

Article submitted by Alzheimer's Association of Colorado. For information on clinical trials and/or Alzheimer's disease call 800-272-3900 or online at www.alz.org/co.

The Alzheimer's Association 2008 International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease (ICAD) was the largest gathering of Alzheimer researchers in history. More than 5,000 researchers shared groundbreaking information and resources on the cause, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of Alzheimer's and related disorders.

There are currently dozens of drugs in Phase II and III clinical trials for Alzheimer's several of which show promise to slow or stop the progression of the disease.

Results from four studies of potential new treatments for Alzheimer's - even an unsuccessful late stage clinical trial - increase the field's knowledge and point scientists toward advances in therapies for the disease.

Phase III trial of Flurizan, Myriad, an anti-amyloid therapy failed to achieve statistically be. However, scientists don't believe this means other amyloid-targeted therapies in the clinical trial pipeline aren't valid. There are other drugs in development that target amyloid differently than this one and one or more of these drugs may ultimately prove successful.
Phase II trial of PBT2, Prana Biotechnology reportedly reduces the toxic form of amyloid by preventing its interaction with copper and zinc in the brain.
Phase II trial of Rember, TauRx Therapeutics, was reported to inhibit the aggregation of tau (tangles), a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease, targeting the toxic tau aggregates.
A trial of Souvenaid, a "medical food" product that encourages the formation of brain synapses and may reduce beta amyloid.

In addition, scientists at ICAD reported on the latest findings in technologies which may provide us with the key to early detection of Alzheimer's, biomarkers which may lead to identifying individuals who are at risk, insight into lifestyle factors that either increase or decrease risk factors, and an initial understanding of how patterns of communication between a person with the disease and family members or healthcare providers may have an affect on the quality of care.

The field is progressing rapidly and scientists believe dramatic changes are transforming the landscape of Alzheimer's disease diagnosis, care, treatment, and eventually, prevention. While results from this year's ICAD are exciting and promising, the speed with which answers are found depends completely on the investment made in research. With the very real potential for 10 million baby boomers to be struck by this disease, it is more important than ever that funding for Alzheimer's research be increased at the federal level in order to capitalize on the progress made in the last decade toward creating a world without Alzheimer's. For information on clinical trials and/or Alzheimer's disease call 800-272-3900 or online at www.alz.org/co.