Capitalizing on progress to date, TARC researchers are aggressively pursuing a number of important cutting-edge research objectives aimed to improve the efficiency of early diagnosis, elucidate the disease mechanisms that are at work in Alzheimer’s and enable more effective disease prevention.

• Development of a serum protein-based tool for predictive diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. If validated in other patient groups, this blood-based test for detecting Alzheimer’s disease will allow earlier and more accurate detection of Alzheimer’s. Because of the length of time that Alzheimer’s develops prior to the onset of symptoms, early diagnosis would be of great benefit to the development of novel treatment therapies and perhaps lead to improved methods to delay or prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
• Discovery of new genes associated with the development of Alzheimer’s disease. The discovery of novel genes associated with Alzheimer's risk is likely to lead to the development of new drugs and therapies that will improve the quality of life of Alzheimer's patients and ultimately prevent this devastating disease.
• Discovery of genetic variants within inflammatory genes that are associated with the development of Alzheimer’s disease. The identification of inflammatory genes that are important to the development of Alzheimer's disease would allow the development of treatments that are aimed at reducing levels of chronic inflammation. Because a number of FDA-approved anti-inflammatory drugs are currently on the market, rapid and effective progress could be made in this arena if inflammatory genes are identified as important Alzheimer’s risk factors.
• Evaluation of the roles of altered cholesterol and insulin metabolism in the development of Alzheimer’s disease. If cholesterol, altered insulin metabolism are shown to be important Alzheimer's risk factors, therapies aimed at moderating these factors would be indicated.
• Resolving the relationship between cardiovascular risk factors, inflammation and Alzheimer’s disease. Identification of inflammation as the key mechanism of action whereby cardiovascular risk factors increase the risk for Alzheimer's would enable physicians to prescribe more effective heart disease medications to prevent or delay onset of Alzheimer's disease.
• Evaluation of the roles of key cardiovascular risk factors in the development and progression of Alzheimer’s disease. If elevated blood levels of homocysteine or Lp-PLA₂ (two key markers of risk for cardiovascular disease) are shown to be important Alzheimer's risk factors, therapies aimed at moderating these factors would be indicated.
• Evaluation of depression and depressive symptoms at various stages of cognitive decline. Results from this study would allow clinicians to more accurately predict risk for depression among their patients who are at various stages of cognitive decline.

Download:

Research Overview 2010 (PDF)

Research Methods, Genetic Analysis (PDF)

Biomarker Analysis (PDF)

Current Research Goals (PDF)