IANA 2006 SYMPOSIUM NUTRITION AND ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE/COGNITIVE DECLINE

描述(申请人提供)：阿尔茨海默病，美国痴呆症的主要形式，正在成为一个日益重要的公共卫生问题。到2050年，阿尔茨海默氏症估计将增加300%。尤其令人担忧的是，考虑到目前没有有效的治疗方法，而且只确定了两个已确定的危险因素--年龄和载脂蛋白-e4基因--两者都是不可预防的。营养风险因素是一个新的、可能令人兴奋的研究领域，其中抗氧化营养素、脂肪成分和B族维生素最受关注。可以说，通过饮食预防阿尔茨海默氏症将是最可取和最具成本效益的解决方案。然而，目前几乎没有研究具备必要的工具和知识来考察这些研究问题。相关但孤立的研究正在从包括动物、临床和流行病学在内的广泛科学中涌现。这项申请的具体目标是于2006年5月1日至2日在芝加哥举行一次关于营养与阿尔茨海默病/认知功能下降的国际跨学科会议。拟议的会议将解决改进和加速研究的需要，方法是 跨学科交流信息和思想的论坛。不同学科的重要概念和方法--特别是营养学和神经学--彼此相当陌生，这阻碍了科学进步。这次会议将汇聚来自世界各地的顶尖研究人员，交流来自广泛学科的尖端方法和研究成果。主要会议议题为：1)维生素B与阿尔茨海默氏症/认知功能衰退；2)膳食脂肪、血胆固醇、总能量摄入量与阿尔茨海默氏症/认知功能衰退；3)抗氧化剂与阿尔茨海默氏症：补充剂与食物。研讨会的目标受众将是科学家、医生、护士、营养学家、教育工作者、学生和卫生保健管理人员。我们预计大约有300人参加。一个由12位国际知名演讲者组成的评审团已经同意展示他们的作品。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Alzheimer's disease, the major form of dementia in the U.S., is becoming an increasingly important public health problem. By the year 2050, Alzheimer's disease is estimated to increase by 300 percent. This is particularly alarming when one considers that at present there are no effective treatments for the disease and only two established risk factors have been identified - age and the apolipoprotein-e4 genotype - both non-preventable. Nutritional risk factors are a new and potentially exciting area of research, with the antioxidant nutrients, fat composition, and B-vitamins of greatest interest. Protection against Alzheimer's disease through diet arguably would be the most desirable and cost-effective solution. At present, however, there are few studies that have the necessary tools and knowledge to examine these research questions. Related, but isolated pockets of research are emerging from a broad spectrum of sciences including animal, clinical and epidemiological. The specific aim of this application is to hold an international and interdisciplinary conference on nutrition and Alzheimer's disease/cognitive decline on May 1-2, 2006 in Chicago. The proposed conference will address the need for improved and accelerated study by providing a forum for interdisciplinary exchange of information and ideas. The important concepts and methods of the various disciplines -in particular, nutrition and neurology -are rather foreign to each other, and this impedes scientific advancement. The conference will bring together the leading researchers from all over the world to exchange cutting-edge methodology and research findings from a wide range of disciplines. The main conference topics will be: 1) B-vitamins and Alzheimer's disease/cognitive decline, 2) Dietary Fats, Blood Cholesterol, Total Energy Intake and Alzheimer's disease/cognitive decline, and 3) Antioxidants and Alzheimer's Disease: Supplements Versus Food. The intended audience of the symposium will be scientists, physicians, nurses, dietitians, educators, students and health care administrators. We expect approximately 300 attendees. A panel of 12 internationally renowned speakers have agreed to present their work.