Alzheimer's research over the past century

by Knox News1900s: - Dr. Alois Alzheimer presents case study and Alzheimer's disease is named.1920s: - Amyloid is identified as the core substance of plaques.1930s: - Familial AD is first suggested.1940s: - Belief persists that senile dementia is normal part of aging caused by cerebral arteriosclerosis.1950s: - Biological structure of plaques and tangles is investigated.1960s: - Landmark study suggests that dementia is directly related to the number of senile plaques present in the cerebral cortex.- Structure of neurofibrillary tangles is described as "paired helical filaments."1970s: - National Institute on Aging is created and assumes lead role in AD research.- Mini-Mental State Exam is introduced.- Memory and cholinergic function are linked; reduction of choline acetyltransferase is seen in AD.- Editorial describes AD as a major public health problem and "Alzheimer's disease" becomes a common term.- Coalition of grassroots AD advocacy groups begins to rally public awareness of and interest in AD research.1980s: - National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Diseases and Stroke/Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association (NINCDS-ADRDA) criteria are written.- Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association forms, becomes the Alzheimer's Association.- First Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers are funded by NIA.- Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM III) categorizes AD.- Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scale is established.- Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD) is created by NIA.- AD is linked to chromosome 21 and amyloid precursor protein.- Beta-amyloid protein is sequenced.- NIA forms the Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral (ADEAR) Center.1990s: - Food and Drug Administration approves tacrine (Cognex) following successful clinical trial.- NIA funds Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study.- First amyloid precursor protein (APP) mutation is discovered.- Early onset genes and late onset risk factor gene are discovered.- First in series of transgenic mice models is created.- Abnormal tau in neurofibrillary tangles is identified.- NIA-Reagan criteria for AD pathology diagnosis are developed.- Mutation in tau gene is cause of some chromosome 17 frontotemporal dementia.- National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center is formed.- Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) characteristics are defined.2000s: - Clinical trials, initiatives, and studies examine cholinesterase inhibitors, anti-inflammatories, vitamins, statins, supplements, valproate, antioxidants, hormones, beta amyloid vaccines and alternative medicines.- Late Onset Alzheimer's Disease Genetics Study begins.- Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative is launched.- Pittsburgh B compound is developed, allowing researchers to "see" amyloid plaques in PET scans.- Triple transgenic mouse is introduced.- New focus on translational studies to facilitate drug discovery and development begins.