MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota — Currently tens of thousands of Minnesotans are living with Alzheimer’s Disease. And, experts say that number is expected to rise to 14 million by the year 2050. The Alzheimer’s Association Minnesota-North Dakota Chapter is teaming up with the University of Minnesota to share critical Alzheimer’s research, as part of its commitment to advocate on behalf of 97,000 Minnesotans living with the incurable disease and their 255,000 caregivers. As the largest non-profit funder of Alzheimer’s research, the Alzheimer’s Association has awarded $7.02 million in active and closed grants in Minnesota. Today there is $1.84 million in active Alzheimer's Association-funded research grants in the state, including research at the University’s Grossman Center.
Dr. Shauna Yuan, of the University’s Grossman Center, works with scientists and affiliates that are at the leading edge of finding better treatments for Alzheimer's disease. “One strategy is to repair communication between neurons by preventing a vital protein from breaking down and accumulating in the synapses that connect neurons to each other. This and other exciting forms of research animate the scientists' quest to find cures for Alzheimer's Disease," said Dr. Yuan.
“Bringing researchers and lawmakers together to create dialog and action on the important issue of Alzheimer’s is crucial to the Alzheimer’s Association’s mission to find a cure. Our organization is also working diligently to increase the National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding for Alzheimer’s research," said Beth McMullen, the Vice President of Government Affairs at the Alzheimer’s Association.
For more information on Alzheimer’s research and resources, click here. Also, support is available for those dealing with Alzheimer’s and Dementia. Call the Alzheimer’s Association’s 24/7 Helpline at 1 (800) 272-3900.