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August 22, 2005
The Hampton University School of Pharmacy gets $400,000 Grant to Develop Amyloid based Alzheimer's Test
Preface:
Do you aware that National Advisory Council on Aging (that decides what Alzheimer's NIA project proposals would get funding and which one would not) in the recent past did not care of commercial competing interest by its members (i.e. those individual scientists who vote on proposals' fate). No wonder another 1/2 million goes to support amyloid dogma, an unproven theory of Alzheimer's, according to the latest Science magazine journalist investigation.
Do you aware that National Advisory Council on Aging (that decides what Alzheimer's NIA project proposals would get funding and which one would not) in the recent past did not care of commercial competing interest by its members (i.e. those individual scientists who vote on proposals' fate). No wonder another 1/2 million goes to support amyloid dogma, an unproven theory of Alzheimer's, according to the latest Science magazine journalist investigation.
"HAMPTON - The Hampton University School of Pharmacy will use a $400,000 federal grant to work on a blood test that could help diagnose Alzheimer's disease at an earlier, more treatable stage. HU scientists plan to study a specific protein in blood - called the abeta peptide - that appears to damage brain cells and cause a loss of memory and function. With money from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, HU will partner with the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine in Texas.
Because there's no simple or single test available to diagnose Alzheimer's, primary-care doctors often don't recognize the progressive brain disorder in people with mild or even moderate dementia. They have to rely on cognitive tests and reports of behavior changes such as anxiety, forgetfulness, confusion and sudden mood swings. "The problem is that by the time a change in behavior is observed, the protein has already damaged the neurons, and treatment is not as effective," said Dr. Chengan Du, an assistant professor at the HU School of Pharmacy and principal investigator on the grant.
Using advanced blood-testing tools, Du said, "we plan to develop an analytical method to measure the concentration of amyloid beta (Abeta) protein." If there's a clear link between high levels of Abeta protein and development of symptoms, doctors could run blood tests and, if appropriate, immediately start medicine to stall the disease.
"We hope our research ultimately leads to the identification of biomarkers" for Alzheimer's, said Corrine Ramaley, an assistant professor at HU and co-investigator on the grant. Alzheimer's disease affects an estimated 4.5 million Americans, a number that has more than doubled since 1980 as the population continues to age. The illness gradually destroys memory and the ability to learn, reason, communicate and carry out daily activities.
There's no cure, but drugs and lifestyle changes can improve quality of life.
For more information about Alzheimer's research at the HU School of Pharmacy, call 728-6791 or 728-6683."
Source: Alison Freehling. HU gets $400,000 grant to develop Alzheimer's test. DailyPress.com (17 August 2005) [FullText]
posted by Dr. Koudinov @ 22.8.05
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