Alzheimer's Disease Research Center

阿尔茨海默氏症(AD)是老年人中最常见的痴呆症原因，据估计，超过400万美国人受到影响，预计未来几十年这一数字还会增加。研究进展提高了AD的诊断准确率，开发了对症药物，并提供了社会和社区护理网络。然而，目前的治疗方案充其量只能提供暂时的稳定，在美国，治疗AD患者的总成本超过每年1000亿美元。进一步的研究对于在抗击阿尔茨海默病方面取得进展至关重要。加州大学圣迭戈分校阿尔茨海默病研究中心(ADRC)在过去25年中为许多研究进展做出了贡献。为了促进和开展对阿尔茨海默病的病因、治疗和预防的研究，该中心此次续期申请的总体具体目标是：1)支持研究努力，维持资源，包括认知正常的受试者、阿尔茨海默病和其他痴呆症的受试者；特征明确的受试者的神经病理组织；生物样本和DNA；以及维护一个全面的数据库。2)协调与阿尔茨海默病、衰老或神经退行性变有关的试点和研究项目。3)在社会上推动专业教育和培训，以及教育外展工作。4)与其他ADC、NACC以及与AD和痴呆症相关的国家研究工作合作。该中心将由行政核心、临床核心(带有西班牙裔少数族裔卫星)、神经病理学核心、数据和生物统计学核心、教育和信息核心组成。提出了三个研究项目：1)用于区分AD患者、路易体痴呆(DLB)和对照组的结构MRI分析。2)α-突触核蛋白的轴突运输与DLB的发病机制。3)AD和DLB进展速度的心理测量学预测。每年颁发三个试点项目奖。该中心将跟踪500名受试者，使用包括统一数据集组成部分的年度标准评估，并将通过向国家阿尔茨海默病协调中心和阿尔茨海默病神经成像倡议(ADNI)贡献数据来为国家研究努力做出贡献。ADRC受试者将被允许参加由阿尔茨海默病合作研究(ADCS)和制药公司组织的临床试验。该中心将继续支持创新研究，培训新的调查人员，提高公众对老龄化和阿尔茨海默病的认识，并为受阿尔茨海默病影响的患者和家庭提供创新的支持努力。

Alzheimer's Disease (AD), the most common cause of dementia in the elderly, is estimated to affect over 4 million Americans, a number projected to grow in the next few decades. Research progress has led to improved diagnostic accuracy for AD, the development of symptomatic medications, and provision of social and community care networks. However, current treatment options provide only temporary stabilization at best, and the overall cost for care of patients with AD in the USA exceeds $100 billion per year. Further research is essential to make progress in the fight against AD. The UCSD Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC) has contributed to much research progress in the past 25 years. In order to facilitate and conduct research into the causes, treatment and prevention of AD, the overall Specific Aims of this renewal application for the Center are: 1) To support research efforts by maintaining resources that include cohorts of subjects with normal cognition, AD and other dementias; neuropathology tissue from well-characterized subjects; biological samples and DMA; and to maintain a comprehensive database. 2) To coordinate pilot and research projects related to Alzheimer's Disease, aging or neurodegeneration. 3) To foster professional education and training, as well as educational outreach efforts in the community. 4) To collaborate with other ADCs, with NACC, and with national research efforts related to AD and dementia. The Center will consist of an Administrative Core, a Clinical Core (with a Hispanic Minority Satellite), a Neuropathology Core, a Data and Biostatistics Core, an Education and Information Core. Three research Projects are proposed: 1) Structural MRI analyses to distinguish patients with AD, Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB) and Controls. 2) Axonal transport of a-synuclein and the pathogenesis of DLB. 3) Psychometric prediction of the rate of progression of AD and DLB. Three Pilot Project awards will be issued each year. The Center will follow 500 subjects, using annual standard evaluations that include the Uniform Data Set components and will contribute to national research efforts by contributing data to the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center, and to the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI). ADRC subjects will be offered participation in clinical trials organized by the Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study (ADCS) and by pharmaceutical companies. The Center will continue to support innovative research, to train new investigators, and to improve public knowledge and awareness about aging and AD, as well as to provide innovative support efforts for patients and families affected by AD.