BEATING ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE A NEW FLUOROGENIC MARKER PUTS ROUTINE TESTS FOR ALZHEIMER'S IN REACH By
Jack LeGrow Ashley Chen
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative disorders pose some of the most concerning threats to an aging population. According to the World Health Organization, there are approximately 55 million people worldwide currently living with AD or some related form of dementia. The 7th leading cause of death internationally and the 4th among those aged 70 and older, Alzheimer’s not only induces stress and fatigue among
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its victims but also weighs a heavy burden on the family members of patients. Caretakers and loved ones report constant physical and emotional stress, feeling on-duty 24/7, and statistically disproportionate frictional unemployment. Considering the distress placed on patients and their families, the Alzheimer’s Association championed clinical trials and extensive research to treat and understand
AD beginning in 1978. Since then, several AD medications have proved efficient at delaying the onset of neuronal damage. Molecular causes for AD have been identified as the buildup of amyloid-beta (Aβ) and tau neuritic plaques in the cerebral cortex. Unfortunately, finding a cure for AD presents a challenge to the medical community despite massive investment and decades of research.
