08.25.2010 • WEDNESDAY ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH • AlS

OTHER v ·1EWS .. ;.~-~·.·.-... ·.: ::.·:,··. - . • - • - • • • • ,. - '. .. • •• • l .• - > t

,MORE. LETTERS ONLINE

"A recent editorial supported letting the Bush tax cuts expire as scheduled:' writes Ray Sanders of House Springs. "Supply-side economics bas been a failure. Let's tiy demand-side economics!'

Prioritizing Alzheimer's disease

Read and talk about (his letter and more let ers onllne atSTLtoday.com/lttten

Research • Scientists are at a critical juncture in understanding this complex, devastating condition.

BY JOHN R. CIRRITO

As Alzheimer's disease research -ers, we spendeveryminuteof every day planning, executing and analyzing data from experiments designed to learn more about the uniquebrainchangesthatoccurin this devastating and frighteningly common disease. Despite the ef-forts of research laboratories na-tionwide, much about Alzheimer's disease remains unknown.

However, within the past few years, it has become clear that we are at a critical juncture in our understanding of Alzheimer's disease and the development of effective therapies.

First, a number of potential bio-markers of the disease have been identified and currently are being tested for their ability to predict disease onset and progression. Second, a wide number of drugs are being developed and multiple clinical trials are underway. The

biggest impediment to the ul-timate success of these studies and the development of effective therapies is the chronic underin -vestment in Alzheimer's disease research by the federal govern -ment.

According to the Alzheimer's Association, 5. 3 million Americans live with Alzheimer's disease at an annual cost of $172 billion for their care. As a significant part of this total, 1101000 Missourians llire with Alzheimer's disease at a total cost of more than $2.6 billion in 2009.

If we are unable to develop effective Alzheimer's disease therapies, it is estimated that the nationwide numbers will balloon to 16 million Americans with the disease at a cost of $1 trillion by theyear2050. Thisanticipated increase is due to the changing population demographics within our country that will likely bank-rupt both Medicare and Medicaid.

The sobering reality is that al-most half of all individuals li:ving into their mid-8os will develop Alzheimer's disease, including our grandparents, parents, brothers, sisters and evenhlally our children. In addition to the financial cost, the physical and emotional toll the disease talces on family, friends and caregivers is devastating. Despite all of these negative trends, our federal government lacks ana -tional strategic plan to deal with the disease.

The current investment in Al -zheirner's disease research by the National Institutes of Health is $457millionperyear. Bycom-parison, the investment in cancer research is $6 billion; HIV/AIDS is$3billionandheartdiseaseis $2 billion per year. To succeed in stopping the impending epidemic of Alzheimer's disease, we must increase funding for research now.

Given this dire situation, re-searchers from across the cowitry

became convinced that a different approach was needed to bring at-tention and funds to Alzheimer's disease research. Now, thanks to the involvement of some of the top researchers in the country and strong organizational support from the Alzheimer's Association, we are cycling across the United States in the Alzheimer's Break-through Ride.

More than 55 researchers are leaving their labs, trading test tubes for water bottles, lab coats for bike jerseys and safety goggles for helmets. The ride started on July 17 in San Francisco and will end on Sept. 211 World Alzheimer's Day, on Capitol Hill in Washing-ton D.C. Ourgoalalongtheroute is to build awareness and gather 100,000 petition signatures to support the Alzheimer's Break-through Act (H.R. 3286/S. 1492), which would increase funding for Alzheimer's disease research to $2 billion per year, and other key

legislation. In addition, we will be riding

in support of individuals living with Alzheimer's disease and their families and friends. Today, we ask , for your support of this important initiative. This Tuesday through Friday, seven researchers from the Knight Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at Washington University are cycling between Wichita,Kan.,andSt.Louis. On Friday, Drs. Tim Miller andArun Varadhachary will ride the relay segment into St. Louis, where pe-

. titian signatures will be collected downtown at Kiener Plaza from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (also available online at www.alz.org/break-throughride).

We have yet to climb the hardest hill - Capitol Hill - and we need your support to do it.

John R. Cirrito is an assistant professor in the Department of• • ·nloPV at Washingt.lll University.

-,

08.25.2010 • WEDNESDAY ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH • AlS

OTHER VIEWS ·. . ,'·· ;, . ' - • - ,• • I -,l.,,;r• '• -

MORE LETTERS ONLINE

''A recent editorial supported letting the Bush tax cuts expire as scheduled:' writes Ray Sanders of House-Sprln,gs. "Supply-side economics has been a failure. Let'~ try demand-side econom1cs!'

Prioritizing Alzheimer's disease

Read and talk about this letter and more letters online at STLtoday.com/letten

Research • Scientists are at a critical juncture in understanding this complex, devastating condition.

BY JOHN R. CIRRITO

As Alzheimer's disease research-ers, we spend every minute of every day planning, executing and analyzing data from experiments designed to learn more about the unique brain changes that occur in this devastating and frighteningly common disease. Despite the ef-forts of research laboratories na-tionwide, much about Alzheimer's disease remains unlmown.

However, within the past few years, it has become clear that we are at a critical juncture in our understanding of Alzheimer's disease and the development of effective therapies.

First, a number of potential bio-markers of the disease have been identified and currently are being tested for their ability to predict disease onset and progression. Second, a wide number of drugs are being developed and multiple clinical trials are underway. The

biggest impediment to the ul-timate success of these studies and the development of effective therapies is the chronic underin-vestment in Alzheimer's disease research by the federal govern-ment.

According to the Alzheimer's Association, 5.3 million Americans live with Alzheimer's disease at an annual cost of $172 billion for their care. As a significant part of this total, 110,000 Missourians litre with Alzheimer's disease at a total cost of more than $2.6 billion in2009.

If we are unable to develop effective Alzheimer's disease therapies, it is estimated that the nationwide numbers will balloon to 16 million Americans with the disease at a cost of $1 trillion by the year 2050. This anticipated increase is due to the changing population demographics within our country that will likely bank-rupt both Medicare and Medicaid.

The sobering reality is that al-most half of all individuals living into their mid-8os will develop Alzheimer's disease, including our grandparents, parents, brothers, sisters and eventually our children. In addition to the financial cost, the physical and emotional toll the disease talces on family, friends and caregivers is devastating. Despite all of these negative trends, our federal government lacks a na -tional strategic plan to deal with the disease.

The current investment in Al-zheimer's disease research by the National Institutes of Health is $457 million per year. By com-parison, the investment in cancer research is $6 billion; HIV/AIDS is $3 billion and heart disease is $2 billion per year. Th succeed in stopping the impending epidemic of Alzheimer's disease, we must increase funding for research now.

Given this dire situation, re-searchers from across the country

became convinced that a different approach was needed to bring at-tention and funds to Alzheimer's disease research. Now, thanks to the involvement of some of the top researchers in the country and strong organizational support from the Alzheimer's Association, we are cycling across the United States in the Alzheimer's Break-through Ride.

More than 55 researchers are leaving their labs, trading test tubes for water bottles, lab coats for bike jerseys and safety goggles for helmets. The ride started on July 17 in San Francisco and will end on Sept. 21, World Alzheimer's Day, on Capitol Hill in Washing-ton D.C. Ourgoalalongtheroute is to build awareness and gather 100,000 petition signatures to support the Alzheimer's Break-through Act (H.R. 3286/S. 1492), which would increase funding for Alzheimer's disease research to $2 billion per year, and other key

legislation. In addition, we will be riding

in support of individuals living with Alzheimer's disease and their families and friends. Today, we ask , for your support of this important initiative. This Tuesday through Friday, seven researchers from the Knight Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at Washington University are cycling between Wichita, Kan., and St. Louis. On Friday, Drs. Tim Miller andArun Varadhachary will ride the relay segment into St. Louis, where pe-tition signatures will be collected downtown at Kiener Plaza from n a.m. to 2 p.m. (also available online at www.alz.org/break-throughride).

We have yet to climb the hardest hill - Capitol Hill - and we need your support to do it.

John R. Cirrito is an assistant professor in the Department of 1 • ·nloPV at washingtJn University.

-,