Research into Emerging Technologies

§  Proteomics involves the identification of unknown proteins following their separation. The application of proteomics to Alzheimer disease (AD), is a very new and emerging technology. Differences in protein expression and post-translational modification (mostly oxidative modification) of proteins from AD brain and peripheral tissue, as well as in brain from rodent models of AD, have yielded insights into potential molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration in AD. Further work in this area hopefully will bring new insights about the pathology, biochemistry, and physiology of AD are beginning to.[i]

Europe and the Fifth Framework Program for Alzheimer disease

Alzheimer disease is an important topic of the key action on "The aging population and disabilities" of the European Union's Fifth Framework Programme. The European commission recognizes the impact of AD on individuals and society and the urgent need for treatments that can prevent, arrest and reverse degeneration and death of neurons. The multidisciplinary projects launched with EU support set a prerequisite in the understanding of the fundamental molecular and cellular mechanisms of AD and the development of diagnostic tools that may identify patients at an early pre-symptomatic stage. Furthermore a consortium of 21 of the most experienced AD laboratories from Europe and beyond are to carry our research projects integrating data from studies with tissue cultures and genetically modified animals into a clinical investigations of demented patients. A broad array of bio-technological methods is also to be used. Results of these studies will lead to diagnostic screening strategies combing genetic, pathophysiological and biomarker information. Annex 6.11.2 is the records of the current fifth framework research projects related to AD.[ii]

Six EU-funded projects were launched in 2000 with a total EU support of € 2 million over 3 years. The ultimate aim of the projects is to diagnose, prevent, delay the onset or treat Alzheimer disease.[iii]

§  Five of the 6 projects seek to understand the mechanisms involved in neurodegeneration and complement each other by studying various aspects of these mechanisms. All aim at identifying and testing potential therapeutic strategies, for instance anti-inflammatory drugs.

§  Two pharmaceutical industries are already involved as partners in two projects and others will be involved in others when new potential therapeutic targets are identified.

§  One project focuses on the needed improvement of cost-effective early diagnosis of dementia and on the differential diagnosis among the various types of dementia. Differentiating Alzheimer disease from other dementias is indeed important, since some of the latter can be treated. This project will essentially try and define widely available diagnostic procedures, by comparison to positron emission tomography (PET), a little available and expensive non-invasive metabolic imaging technique.

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[i] Butterfield DA, Boyd-Kimball D, Castegna A. Proteomics in Alzheimer's disease: insights into potential mechanisms of neurodegeneration. J Neurochem. 2003 Sep;86(6):1313-27.

[ii]http://dbs.cordis.lu/fepcgi/srchidadb?CALLER=PROJ_FP5&QZ_WEBSRCH=alzheimer%27s+disease&USR_SORT=EP_PGA_A+CHAR+ASC. The fifth framework Program. The European Commission Community Research. 1998-2002. Last accessed May 30, 2004.

[iii] http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/press/2000/pr2109-alz-en.html. Progress against Alzheimer’s Disease. Press Release Brussels, 21 September 2000. EUROPA. Last accessed May 30, 2004.