<< Previous Page 1 2 3 4 Next Page >> Byrd Alzheimer's Institute Home Page
Chairman’s Brief
As Chair of the Board of Directors, it is my privilege and goal to continue moving the Institute forward. This year our focus includes:
- Recruiting scientists
Alzheimer’s in Florida is a ticking time bomb. By 2030, direct and indirect costs of care are expected to reach $23.3 billion, or about double today’s numbers. It is essential Florida attract more scientists who share the Institute’s mission to find a cure. - Expanding strategic partnerships
The Institute collaborates with scientists throughout Florida and the world. Partnerships like this powerfully increase the value of every dollar dedicated to research. - Increasing donations
Private funding and federal grants are critical as we reduce the Institute’s dependence on state dollars. Please join us in this important effort to ensure stable funding for Alzheimer’s research by making a gift to the Institute today. We thank you on behalf of every Floridian facing the dire consequences of Alzheimer’s, and pledge that your gifts will support essential research. - Improving fiscal clarity
The Board continues to improve financial transparency. The Institute, already a careful steward of public and private dollars, is committed to full accountability to our funders. Since its inception, at least 80 percent of Institute expenditures have been invested in mission-specific activities and administrative expenses have been below the 15 percent Better Business Bureau benchmark for non-profits.
With your help we will continue to work our mission even as we focus on the fundraising and business development phase of our growth.
Research Today: memories forever.
Pamela Vergara, Ph.D., P.E.
Chair, Board of Directors
The Latest from the Lab
What are the different types of dementia?
Dementia is a broad term that describes a gradual decline in mental abilities which interferes with normal daily activities. Symptoms can include memory loss, confusion, irrational behavior, and personality and mood changes.
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. Cells in the brain are damaged and killed when the brain becomes clogged with abnormal structures called plaques and tangles. The first problem patients notice is a memory loss that interferes with their work or social life. Risk factors include age, family history and genetics.
The second most common form of dementia, vascular dementia, occurs when the blood supply carrying oxygen and nutrients to the brain is impaired. This often occurs after a series of small strokes. Symptoms vary depending on the area of the brain affected and onset can be gradual or sudden. Risk factors include high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, diabetes and heart attack. AD patients can also have vascular dementia.
Lewy body dementia is caused by the buildup of abnormal structures within the nerve cells of the brain. These structures, known as Lewy bodies, lead to a slow progressive disease process. It often begins with impaired recent memory, speech problems and fluctuations in mental performance. Scientists first found Lewy bodies in Parkinson’s disease patients, but recently they have also been found in some AD patients.
Other forms of dementia occur due to diseases such as Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and Fronto-temporal lobar degeneration, as well as infections such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and late-stage HIV/AIDS.
Bonnie Goodwin, Ph.D. and MPH.
An Apple a Day...
Flavonoids, the natural substances that give fruits and vegetables color, may be useful in combating Alzheimer’s disease. In a recent study supported by the Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute, scientists working with lab animals were able to reduce the levels of amyloid-beta by administering flavonoids.
Amyloid-beta (or A beta) forms the sticky deposits that build up in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s. The researchers determined that these flavonoid molecules work by targeting a protein called presenilin-1, which has long been linked to Alzheimer’s as a genetic cause of this devastating and untreatable illness.
Citrus, dark berries, green tea and red wine are all good sources. For more information about flavonoids, the University of Oregon Center on Micronutrients has an extensive web site*.
Jun Tan, M.D., Ph.D., with the University of South Florida Department of Psychiatry, headed the study. Other authors are: Kavon Rezai-Zadeh (first author), R. Douglas Shytle, Ph.D., Yun Bai, M.D., Ph.D., Jun Tian, M.D., Ph.D., Huayan Hou, M.D., Ph.D., Takashi Mori, D.V.M., Ph.D., Jin Zeng, M.D., and Demian Obregon.
The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health and the Johnnie B. Byrd, Sr. Alzheimer’s Center & Research Institute. Citation: Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, “Flavonoid-mediated presenilin-1 phosphorylation reduces Alzheimer’s disease β-amyloid production,” published online April 17, 2008.
<< Previous Page 1 2 3 4 Next Page >> Byrd Alzheimer's Institute Home Page