Resources for caregivers, families and those living with Alzheimer’s…click here for savings and values from the  line of products from Amazon.

Book commemorates centennial of discovery of Alzheimer's disease

Newswise — IOS Press is pleased to announce the forthcoming publication of a landmark work commemorating the centennial of Alois Alzheimer's discovery of what would be known as Alzheimer's disease (AD). The book, Alzheimer's Disease: A Century of Scientific and Clinical Research, is scheduled for publication in July 2006 and its release will coincide with the 10th International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders, July 15-20 in Madrid.

The centennial of Alois Alzheimer’s original description of the disease that would come to bear his name offers a vantage point from which to commemorate the seminal discoveries in the field. This milestone work has been guided by four of the most prominent voices in the field today, George Perry, Dean of the University of Texas at San Antonio College of Sciences and Professor of Pathology and Neurosciences, Case Western Reserve University, Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Alzheimer's Disease; Jesús Avila, Center for Molecular Biology, University Autónoma of Madrid, Senior Editor, Journal of Alzheimer's Disease; June Kinoshita, Executive Editor, Alzheimer Research Forum; and Mark A. Smith, Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Co-Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. It traces how the true importance of AD as the major cause of late life dementia ultimately came to light and narrates the evolution of the concepts related to AD throughout the years and its recognition as a major public health problem, with an estimated 30-40 million people affected by AD today.

George Perry commented, "The book will bring to life, and in many instances revisit and reflect on, the classic studies that have essentially defined Alzheimer's disease research. My co-editors and I are extremely pleased that this project has attracted participation from nearly every single player in the field and, having read each contribution, I am convinced that the book is destined to become one of the defining works in the field."

To identify the breakthroughs, the editors have used citation analysis, landmark papers identified by current researchers, and drew upon their own experience and insights. This process took into account the perspectives of individuals who recall the impact of findings at the time they were made, as well as of scientists today who have the advantage of hindsight in weighing the lasting influence of these findings. Because modern AD research was triggered by the seminal work of Tomlinson, Blessed, and Roth some four decades ago, it is particularly fortunate that the vast majority of these milestone authors are still with us.

Each contributor was invited to discuss what made his or her particular article a milestone in the context of its time. Furthermore, contributors were asked to provide a highly personal perspective, by recounting the tale of how each discovery unfolded and by frankly describing the contradictions among studies and the debates that once took place in whispered tones in remote corners of seminar rooms and conference halls.

According to Dr. Perry, "These writings bring to the practitioner, student and interested lay person a perspective not only on the past, but also on where the Alzheimer's disease field is likely to go in the future. Only time will tell whether these milestones have charted the future accurately, but they are unquestionably the foundation upon which the future will be built."

Alzheimer's Disease: A Century of Scientific and Clinical Research
Edited by George Perry, Jesús Avila, June Kinoshita and Mark A. Smith
July 2006, approx. 400 pages, hardcover
ISBN: 1-58603-619-x
US$150 / €120 / £82
Orders may be placed at order@iospress.nl (Will also be published as a special issue of the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.)