by Leonard Konis

Created on: May 14, 2008   Last Updated: May 15, 2008

Alzheimer's disease is a degenerative brain disorder, first discovered by German physician Alois Alzheimer in 1906, and seventh leading cause of death in the United States. Since the discovery of this disease, researchers have learned how this form of dementia (Decline of cognitive function more than expected from normal aging in geriatric population 2) progresses, leading to loss of memory, impairment to think and loss of bodily function. 1 Early stage of the disease includes short term memory loss, which is often hard to diagnose and predominantly occurs in people over the age of sixty-five years old. Later stage of the disease; symptoms include anger, confusion, mood swings, language breakdown, until death occurs. Estimate duration of the Alzheimer's disease five to twenty years. Alzheimer's disease is eighty percent linked to genetic factors. 4 "Approximately four million Americans have this disease and some

14 million are expected to have it by 2050 unless a cure or preventive treatment is found". 3

Researchers (Weill Cornell Medical College and Columbia University College of Physicians Surgeons 5) discovered the cause of Alzheimer's disease attributed to accumulation of amyloid plaques in the brain, which is a Beta-amyloid protein component. 3 Eventually the plaques in the brain kill nerve cells foundation of memory loss, personality changes, and neurological changes linked to Alzheimer's disease. 5 Evidence supporting the conclusion Alzheimer's disease is linked to accumulation of amyloid plaques in the brain, confirmed by disease prone mouse study, conducted by John Disterhoft of the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University, Chicago and colleagues. 6

Myriad Genetics (public traded company- symbol MYGN) conducting largest clinical studies, determine if the drug Tarenflurbil (generic name Flurizan) effectively will treat Alzheimer's disease. On March 5, 2007 Myriad reported final results of phase two clinical trial 7: 210 patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's in Canada and United Kingdom received tanenflurbil 800 mg or 400 mg twice daily or placebo for twelve months. Researchers lead by Dr. Gordon K. Wilcock from Radcliffe hospital, University of Oxford, in the United Kingdom noted as result of phase two clinical trial: Cognitive decline was in the right direction. 11 Myriad Genetics stated regarding administration of high-dose Flurizan 800 milligrams twice daily: "demonstrated a substantial benefit over other dose groups in the study

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