Alzheimer'sResearch@Florida Techusing the technology of space for the problems of florida

As many of you know, Alzheimer’s is an incurable disease. There is no preventative medication, no exact tests to determine whether or not an individual has or will develop late onset Alzheimer’s, nor is there an medication to relieve or eradicate the disease. Many of the individuals plagued with AD do not understand what is happening to them nor know how handle the changes. My own grandmother turned to me one day when I was home visiting and told me that I could have her brain to test so I could figure out what is happening to her. No child, grandchild or family member wants to hear their loved one say words like that. It broke my heart to hear the woman I am named after, speak in such a manner because I knew what was happening to her but trying to explain what is happening would only only make her more confused.

Research efforts are being conducted around the world on this disease. But being American’s we take a great deal of pride in the work we conduct here in our cities and states. There are 16,388 teams participating in walks all over this country in support of the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. In Florida alone, ther are 24 walks being held: Bradenton 10/8, Coral Gables 10/29, DeLand 9/10, Destin 11/5, Fernandina Beach 10/1, Fort Myers 10/22, Gainville 10/8, Hollywood 11/5, Jacksonville 11/5, Lakeland 10/29, Naples 10/15, Orlando 10/22, Palm Coast 9/10, Port St. Lucie 3/26, Punta Gorda 9/24, Sarasota 10/1, Sebring 10/15, Spring Hill 10/22, St. Petersburg 9/24, Sun City Center 10/8, Tallahassee 9/24, Tampa 9/17, Viera 10/1, and West Palm Beach 4/9.

The Walk to End Alzheimer’s campaign raises funds for care, support, and grants as well as raise awarness. Please find your local walk today and participate. Or donate to our walk efforts this year as our lab group participates in the walk in Viera, FL on October 1st. Walk to End Alzheimer’s Donations

-Kathryn Holder, Graduate Student

It seems as though in today’s society, you rarely hear about the good deeds of young adults. They either go unnoticed or are pushed a side for news of more interesting detail. Rarely do you find a group of students so passionate about researching a disease that they themselves will not have to worry about developing until they are much older. The students working the Biochemistry/Biophysics lab at Florida Institute of Technology are working hard trying to understand the basics behind Alzheimer’s disease.

Being one of the three graduate students conducting research in this lab, I find it encouraging that students of undergraduate level are wanting to invest their time in understanding the basics behind this terrible disease and other diseases like it. Alzheimer’s is discussed throughout many arenas of the media such as talk shows, primetime shows such as Grey’s Anatomy, and endless commercials. They all tell you where you can gain more information on the disease and how you can help by supporting your local chapter. That is all true, but sometimes people who are battling the beginning signs of Alzheimer’s or are afraid of developing it down the road need to know that there is more than education and influx of monetary support happening.

About two months ago, a woman contacted Dr. Xu asking for more information on our research. I ended up speaking to the woman, who simply wanted to know what she could do to help us and what progress we have made in understanding this disease. She was a delightful 80 year old woman, who from our brief conversation admitted she was afraid that she was developing Alzheimer’s and wanted to know if we needed a live specimen to examine. I did my best to explain to her the terminology that she had encountered while reading an article published in the AARP journal and to give her hope that one day, hopefully soon, we will find the underlying cause and a cure.

I have learned that this research is not all about the first one to find a cure or to find the mechanism in which the protein forms and causes the disease but to give individuals who are afraid of this disease hope. Hope in knowing that one day there will be a cure. Hope in knowing that the furture scientific minds of America and the world are working on this problem and that they do care because it is not just an ‘old person’s disease’ but a disease that can affect anyone and everyone at any time.

So, know that there is hope. And if you would like to learn more about the research being conducted at Florida Tech email us or call us.
-Kathryn Holder, Graduate Student

Florida Tech’s Innovative Alzheimer’s Research Program is directed by
Dr. Shaohua Xu

A recent article on our work.
A Florida Tech press release describes Dr. Xu’s research.
Florida Tech and Kennedy Space Center Alzheimer’s Research in the News

If you would like to help, get involved! If you or your group is interested, we can present a talk about our work or give you a chance to see our lab and meet our students. Contact us. Help spread the word by writing to you local paper, and let your state representatives know it’s a priority to you. We depend on the generous people who support this vital research. All donations to Florida Tech are tax deductible, and each additional person who helps can make a difference.