American Health Assistance Foundation Announces Significant Breakthrough in Alzheimer's Disease Research

  • Press Release
Published on:

CLARKSBURG, MD.-The American Health Assistance Foundation today announced a significant discovery in Alzheimer's disease research by one of its grantees, Paul Lombroso, whose efforts resulted in discovery of a new therapeutic drug target that may help protect against the loss of cognition seen in Alzheimer's disease patients.

Paul Lombroso, M.D.“Dr. Lombroso's team has made a discovery that focuses a bright light on methods that we might use to prevent the break-down of mechanisms that solidify our memories,” said American Health Assistance Foundation Vice President for Scientific Affairs, Dr. Guy Eakin. “As the scientific community regroups from a number of failed clinical trials, 5.3 million Americans with Alzheimer's disease wait for an effective treatment. The promise of these new discoveries underscores the continued need for new drug targets to leverage against Alzheimer's disease.”

Dr. Lombroso is a Professor in the Yale Child Study Center and in the Departments of Neurobiology and Psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine. AHAF provided the sole source of funding for his groundbreaking research. The research team also included Nobel Laureate and honorary member of AHAF ' Board of Directors, Dr. Paul Greengard.

“This finding provides a rationale for drug discovery and for developing therapeutic agents that could inhibit STEP proteins and might improve the outlook for Alzheimer's disease patients,” said senior author of the study Paul Lombroso, M.D., Professor in the Yale Child Study Center and in the Departments of Neurobiology and Psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine.

About American Health Assistance Foundation 

The American Health Assistance Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to finding cures for age-related and degenerative diseases by funding research worldwide on Alzheimer's disease, macular degeneration and glaucoma. AHAF also provides the public with free information about these diseases, including risk factors, preventative lifestyles, and current treatments and coping strategies.