Cure Alzheimer's Fund Co-Sponsors 13th International Conference on Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases

WELLESLEY, Mass., May 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Cure Alzheimer's Fund was a co-sponsor of the 13^th International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease and Parkinson's Diseases (ADPD) held in Vienna, Austria from March 29^th to April 2^nd.  More than 3400 scientists from around the world attended the conference, which provided a platform to share the latest research, developments, and medical breakthroughs on Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and other neurodegenerative diseases.

"It was gratifying to see that much of the work shared at the ADPD 2017 conference was research funded by our organization," said Tim Armour, President and CEO of Cure Alzheimer's Fund.  "We know that as collaboration among Alzheimer's researchers increases, we are more likely to find effective ways to treat the disease."

Among those who attended were members of Cure Alzheimer's Fund's Research Consortium, including Dr. Sangram S. Sisodia of the University of Chicago, who led a symposium on the role of the microbiome in the modulation of amyloid deposition. Dr. Sisodia's recent work shows that treatment with a broad spectrum of antibiotics over a long period of time decreased the levels of amyloid plaque and triggered the development of inflammatory microglial cells in the brains of mice.  Harvard Medical School's Dr. Rudy Tanzi, who chairs the consortium, also shared recent developments in the understanding of the genetic components to Alzheimer's disease.

"The grants provided by Cure Alzheimer's Fund make the scientific work we do possible," said Harvard Medical School's Dr. Doo Yeon Kim, who along with Dr. Tanzi, developed the groundbreaking Alzheimer's in a Dish after receiving support from Cure Alzheimer's Fund. 

Dr. Kim also attended the ADPD 2017, where he shared information on the evolution of Alzheimer's in a Dish, in a symposium sponsored by Cure Alzheimer's Fund on organoid models.  The latest models allow researchers to include microglia, which allows testing the hypothesis of the interaction between amyloid, tau, and inflammation in the development of the disease.  This is an important advancement in the diagnostic tool as it allows scientists to further examine the drivers of risk for Alzheimer's disease.

Cure Alzheimer's Fund is also supporting research that allows scientists to take a fibro blast from skin and preserve the changes that happen with age, better understanding the role that age plays as a risk factor in the disease. 

"The ADPD conference is a reminder that we have come a very long way in understanding the pathology of Alzheimer's disease, critical to developing potential solutions for prevention and treatment," said Dr. Tanzi.  "It's important that we continue to exchange knowledge and fund research so that we can eventually find a cure for this devastating disease."

About Cure Alzheimer's Fund

Cure Alzheimer's Fund is a non-profit dedicated to funding the most promising research to prevent, slow or reverse Alzheimer's disease. Since its founding in 2004, Cure Alzheimer's Fund has contributed over $50 million to research. Cure Alzheimer's Fund has received a perfect score regarding its overall financial health from Charity Navigator and a four star rating from the organization for the past five years.  With 100 percent of funds raised going directly to research, Cure Alzheimer's has been able to support some of the best scientific minds in the field of Alzheimer's research.  For more information, please visit http://www.curealz.org/

SOURCE Cure Alzheimer's Fund

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