One hundred years after the first diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease Nov. 3, 1906, researchers at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, are focusing on neuroscience, immunology and vaccine research to better understand how AD develops and progresses as well as to advance the treatment and prevention of this progressive brain disorder. AD, which currently affects 20 million Americans, gradually destroys memory and the ability to learn, reason, make judgments and communicate.
“The Yerkes Research Center has developed four major areas of Alzheimer’s research critical to identifying preventions and treatments to slow the progression or stop the onset of this devastating disease,” said Stuart Zola, director of the center. “Along with investigating potential Alzheimer’s disease vaccines, our researchers are developing a transgenic model for the disease, conducting comparative aging studies and detecting early symptoms of the disease.”