Alzheimer's Association Update

oes one protein mechanism underlie the development of laques and tangles? Which risk factors most accurately redict the development of dementia? How does the comunication style of caregivers affect the quality of life of ndividuals with Alzheimer’s disease (AD)? The Alzheimer’s ssociation 2008 International Conference on Alzheimer’s Disase (ICAD), held July 26–31 in Chicago, sought to answer hese and other questions in diverse areas ranging from drug rials to genetics, neuroimaging, diagnosis, and social and beavioral issues in AD and other forms of dementia. Historically the world’s largest gathering of AD and demenia researchers, ICAD 2008 broke previous attendance records, rawing more than 5,400 attendees to 2,000-plus plenary, symosium, oral, and poster presentations. The conference attracted edia attention both in the United States and abroad, with overage by outlets including ABC, the BBC, CBS, CNN, BC, the Associated Press, Reuters, The Wall Street Journal, nd USA Today. Opening the conference, Alzheimer’s Association Presient and CEO Harry Johns thanked the attendees for the ork they do every day to unlock the mysteries of dementia nd shared some of the Association’s strategic goals. These nclude “raising Alzheimer’s from a disease to a cause that is mbraced worldwide,” increasing financial support to reearchers, and enhancing advocacy efforts to heighten awareess of the epidemic of AD. The disease and other dementias ost the United States more than $148 billion annually in edicaid and Medicare services and in indirect costs to usinesses that employ AD and dementia caregivers. Accordng to one study, providing care for the estimated 29.3 million eople worldwide with AD cost $315 billion in 2005 [Wimo et al. Alzheimer’s & Dementia 2007;3:381–91]. To accelerate the pace of research and the sharing of esearch advances, Johns announced that the usually bianual ICAD will be held annually. The 2009 meeting will ake place July 11–16 in Vienna, Austria.