Alzheimer’s Booming—Among Florida’s Boomers
Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute in Tampa begins human trials to test effect of caffeine on Alzheimer’s pathology and memory problems
06.12.07
TAMPA – New estimates set the number of adult Floridians expected to develop Alzheimer’s disease at 1.3 million by 2050 – a threefold increase. At the same time, the number of Americans suffering from the disease is expected to grow to 16 million, according to figures released this week at the Alzheimer’s Association International conference on Prevention of Dementia in Washington D.C.
Dr. Huntington Potter, CEO and director of scientific research at the Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute also announced during the conference that the Tampa-based institute has just begun human studies into the effects of caffeine on the disease and related memory problems.
The Byrd Alzheimer's Institute is completing work on the world’s largest freestanding research center dedicated to Alzheimer’s research. The institute’s new home is located on the campus of the University of South Florida in Tampa.
The human caffeine tests are specifically designed to study how well aging people tolerate the effects of caffeine and how effectively it reduces a substance in their blood that acts as a "marker" for the presence of Alzheimer’s.
Earlier groundbreaking research conducted by the institute found that the equivalent of five cups of coffee a day when administered to mice with the Alzheimer’s gene prevented or reduced pathological symptoms of the disease.
In a paper delivered Tuesday to the conference, Potter reported to the gathering of international scientists on the caffeine research, as well as on the promising effects of two other substances – an anti-depressant called Rollopram, and a complex molecule from green tea known as EGCG and caffeine.
The institute also is conducting clinical studies for a pharmaceutical company, Neurochem, into the effectiveness of a drug called Alzhemed. But the results of the first round of clinical tests found "disappointingly big differences" between data collected at the different testing sites, Potter said.
Meanwhile, among the drugs creating a stir at the international conference was one long used as anti-histamine in Russia.
"I think the data are curious and provocative," for the Russian drug, Potter said. "But it’s unlikely the drug is working through its anti-histamine characteristics – but it may. It needs more work."
Overall, said Potter, "this international conference has shown the use of biomarkers is going to be difficult to study and new drugs assumed to be promising still need extensive human testing in a controlled fashion."
Meanwhile, the cost of Alzheimer’s to the Florida economy is a staggering $1o billion a year, noted Potter. And the projected increases in the number of people suffering from the disease "is a catastrophe that is going to happened to all countries as their populations age."
"Florida," he said, "is at the eye of that story."
Dr. Huntington Potter is the CEO and Scientific Director of the Johnnie B. Byrd Sr. Alzheimer's Center & Research Institute and the Director of the designated Florida Alzheimer's Disease Research Center by the National Institutes of Health. He also holds the Eric Pfeiffer Endowed Chair for Research on Alzheimer's Disease at the Suncoast Gerontology Center and is Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of South Florida College of Medicine and is an appointed Member of the Alzheimer's Disease Advisory Committee. Prior to joining USF in 1998, Dr. Potter studied, researched and taught for 30 years at Harvard University.
Media availability and conference call with Dr. Huntington Potter on the International conference and Byrd Alzheimer's Institute research: TODAY at 1:30 p.m.
Media call in number: 1-866-200-9760
Media PIN participation number: 2221993#
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