On November 5th Duke University of North Carolina released an article announcing a new initiative that "Strives to Keep North Carolinians’ Memories Healthy". The article states:

"The prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease is rapidly increasing throughout the country, including in North Carolina, but our current system for conducting disease prevention research can take decades and be very costly," said Kathleen A. Welsh-Bohmer, PhD, director of Duke’s Bryan ADRC.

"We have created a more efficient process by partnering with our local community to join us in our mission to prevent the disease."

Approximately 170,000 people in North Carolina are projected to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease by 2010 and that number is expected to jump to 210,000 by 2025."

North Carolina's population according to the 2008 census estimate is 9.2 milliion meaning 1.8% of North Carolina's population suffers from Alzheimer. According to Oregon Partnership for Alzheimer's research, 80,000 Oregonians have Alzheimer's disease. That means 2.1% of our state population is affected. The Alzheimers Association released a "2009 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures" report stating as many as 5.3 million people in the US are effected and Alzheimers has become the 7th leading cause of death.

The Research
According to the Alzheimer's Association's website they have committed $265 million to more than 1,800 grant proposals since 1982. Looking at the kind of research that has been published much of the work is focused on early detection, and genetic risk factors. For example here are some titles from News Releases at the National Institute on Aging:

"Scientists Identify Two Gene Variants Associated with Alzheimer’s Risk"
"Scientists Report Important Step in Biomarker Testing for Alzheimer’s Disease"
"Scientists Isolate a Toxic Key to Alzheimer’s Disease in Human Brains"

Each of these stories can be read in full at the link provided below. It seems that the old adage "Use it or Lose it" is the most common theme here and the next year will bring us more data on prevention and early detection. There are many initiatives going on right now for Alzheimer's research and if you are involved with any we would like to hear about them.

Oregon Partnership for Alzheimer's Research - OHSU Website
Duke University Alzheimer's Initiative
What Causes Alzheimer's Diesease page from brneurosci.org
Research Programs for 2010 from Alzheimer's Association -
http://www.alz.org/professionals_and_researchers_research_programs.asp
http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_facts_figures.asp
NIH News on Alzhemers Research - http://www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/ResearchInformation/NewsReleases/
CDC Page on Alzheimer's Diesease