It was standing room only on September 17th at the 21st Annual Chapter Meeting, held at Rockefeller University,
where three of the country’s most renowned scientists gathered to explain the genetics of Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

Jeffrey Tucker, Chapter Board Co-Chair, opened the program by welcoming our esteemed panel of scientists, invited guests, staff and volunteers. In setting the stage for the evening discussion, Chapter President & CEO Lou-Ellen Barkan, told the audience about a new and growing segment of Chapter clients — a group she calls the “worried well.”

Ms. Barkan noted, “These are Baby Boomers who throughout their lives have really taken care of themselves — exercising, eating right, seeing their doctors regularly and wearing seatbelts and sunscreen. But increasingly, when they forget a name or a familiar word, when they lose their car keys, they call us. Most frequently they want to know: If my parents have or had Alzheimer’s or another dementia, am I likely to become ill as well?

To answer this question, the Chapter brought together Dr. Sam Gandy, Mount Sinai Professor of Alzheimer’s Disease Research, Professor of Neurology & Psychiatry, Associate Director, Mount Sinai Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Mount Sinai School of Medicine; Dr. Richard Mayeux, Professor of Neurology, Psychiatry & Epidemiology, Co-Director, Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain at Columbia University; and Dr. Robert Green, Professor of Neurology, Genetics & Epidemiology, Co-Director, Alzheimer’s Disease Clinical & Research Program at Boston University Schools of Medicine & Public Health.

The panel was moderated by Dr. Elemer Piros, Senior Biotechnology Analyst at Rodman & Renshaw LLC.

Dr. Gandy presented the role of the beta-amyloid protein in AD and the multiple approaches to developing an effective anti-amyloid drug, including immunotherapy, anti-aggregants and the secretase modifiers. Dr. Mayeux discussed the genetic influences on AD, the differing role of genetics in early-onset AD, late-onset AD, and the major genetics and AD initiative funded by the National Institute of Aging. Dr. Green spoke about genetic risk assessment and fi ndings from the Risk Evaluation and Education for Alzheimer’s Disease (REVEAL) study that assessed the impact of genetic susceptibility testing and sharing the results with adult children whose parents have AD. Dr. Piros noted there are currently more than 60 companies developing “disease-modifying” drugs and that the pharmaceutical industry, motivated by potential financial returns, is committed to Alzheimer’s drug development.

In closing the program, Jed Levine, Executive Vice President, Director of Programs & Services, led an informative Q&A session with the scientists, touching upon a number of audience concerns, including the
efficacy of genetic screening (which is most effective in families with a history of early-onset Alzheimer’s); and the relationship of head injuries to the disease.
Jed then announced that in 2008, the Alzheimer’s Association funded $25.4 million in grants to 131 scientists devoting themselves to promising Alzheimer’s research — 18 in New York City. For the complete list of NYC Grant Award winners, please click here (PDF) .

Ms. Barkan thanked the scientists, Rodman & Renshaw, and the dedicated staff of the Alzheimer’s Association, New York City Chapter for their eff orts in making the Annual Meeting a success.

View our 2008 Annual Meeting Photo Album.

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