Ronald and Nancy Reagan Research Institute

The Ronald and Nancy Reagan Research Institute, an affiliate of the National Alzheimer's Association in Chicago, Illinois, is an initiative founded by former United States President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan to accelerate the progress of Alzheimer's disease research.cite news|url=http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/9168.php|title=Alzheimer's Association Ronald and Nancy Reagan Research Institute|date=June 5, 2004|accessdate=2008-03-14|publisher=Medical News Today] The center was dedicated in 1995.

Overview

The development of the institute marked an important milestone in the maturation of Alzheimer's research; in 1982, most Alzheimer's reasearch projects posed broad questions regarding the nature and effects of the disease, while the Reagan institute largely introduced – and expanded – the biological segment of disease research. The institute has awarded $12 million in research grants, and created the Ronald and Nancy Reagan Research Institute Award, given to individuals who have contributed greatly to Alzheimer's research. [cite web|url=http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/Press_releases/2006/04_07_06.html|title=Hopkins Researchers Receives the Ronald and Nancy Reagan Research Institute Award|date=April 7, 2006|accessdate=2008-03-14|publisher=Johns Hopkins University]

President Ronald Reagan was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 1994,cite news|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A0DE2DF123EF935A35752C1A962958260&sec=health&spon=&pagewanted=all|title=In Poignant Public Letter, Reagan Reveals That He Has Alzheimer's|date=November 6, 1994|accessdate=2007-12-30|work=The New York Times|author=Gordon, Michael R.] and released a letter to the American people announcing his affliction. [cite web|url=http://www.americanpresidents.org/letters/39.asp|title=Letters: Ronald Reagan|accessdate=2008-03-14|publisher=National Cable Satellite Corporation] His diagnosis and decision to go public with the news greatly affected the perception of Alzheimer's and reduced the stigma attached to the disease.cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A39072-2004Jun13.html|date=June 14, 2004|page=A01|work=The Washington Post|author=Vedantam, Shankar|title=Reagan's Experience Alters Outlook for Alzheimer's Patients|accessdate=2008-03-14] In 1995, he and Mrs. Reagan established the institute. When the president became too incapacitated and could not function normally, Nancy Reagan began supporting federally-funded embryonic stem cell research in the hopes that such research could lead to an Alzheimer's cure. She also remains an honorary board member of the research institute. President Reagan's daughter, Maureen Reagan Revell, was very active within the research center until her death in 2001.

As of 2007, an estimated 5.1 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease. This number includes 4.9 million people age 65 and older, and at least 200,000 individuals younger than 65 with early-onset Alzheimer’s. cite web|url=http://www.alz.org/national/documents/Report_2007FactsAndFigures.pdf|format=PDF|title=Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures of 2007|publisher=National Alzheimer's Association|date=2007|accessdate=2008-03-20] According to the Alzheimer's Association, an American is diagnosed with the disease every 72 seconds. Although there is not yet any treatment that can delay or stop the deterioration of brain cells in Alzheimer’s disease, researchers have identified a number of new treatment strategies that may have the potential to change its course. A number of experimental therapies based on the amyloid hypothesis and other targets have reached various stages of clinical testing in human volunteers. The Ronald and Nancy Reagan Research Institute funded a book by leading Alzheimer's researchers about progress in new treatment strategies for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. cite book
last = Hanin
first = Israel
authorlink =
coauthors = Mitsuo Yashida
title = Progress in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases
publisher = Springer Verlag
date = 1998
location =
pages =
url =
doi =
id =
isbn = 9780306459030 ]

Footnotes