International Cutting Edge Research for Treatments for Alzheimer's Disease

At the McCusker Alzheimer's Research Foundation, we undertake Alzheimer's disease research in four areas:

- understanding the pathology of the disease
- development of treatments
- identification of factors with the potential to defer or prevent the onset of the disease
- discovery of an early diagnosis.

As part of our research into diagnosis, we will be undertaking the latest, highly specialised brain imaging, known as PET-PIB. This allows detection of the accumulation of beta amyloid in the living brain.

While beta amyloid is a diagnostic marker, it is not sufficiently reliable on its own. We are collaborating with researchers in Singapore and the USA to develop a suite of bio-markers and an accurate and reliable diagnostic tool for Alzheimer's Disease.

We have received funding for a major study on the preventative value of specific nutritional supplements for Alzheimer's Disease. This study will focus on the potential of antioxidants and poly phenols to defer the onset of Alzheimer's.

Current Research

The major research projects currently underway in the Sir James McCusker Alzheimer's Disease Research Laboratory include:

• Developing agents that selectively target the enzyme responsible for beta amyloid generation
• Efficacy of combined nutritional supplement therapies in the prevention of Alzheimer's Disease
• Gene hunting
• Identification and validation of peptide agents that neutralise beta amyloid toxicity
• Molecular and neuropsychological predictive markers of cognitive decline
• The mechanism of action of the major Alzheimer gene Apolipoprotein E
• The role of gonadotropins in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's Disease
• The role of testosterone in Alzheimer's Disease (see also "Good News for Grumpy Men" PDF)
• Therapeutic efficacy of a cholesterol lowering agent in Alzheimer's Disease