Cure Alzheimer's Fund: Targeting Breakthrough Research

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.  The two $100,000 grants will be made to early career researchers to inspire and enable innovative research which leads to effective therapies for Alzheimer's Disease.

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.

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.