Preface
Over the past few decades, Alzheimer's disease has emerged from obscurity. Once considered a rare disorder, it is now seen as a major public health problem that has a severe impact on millions of older Americans and their families. Research on Alzheimer's disease has grown accordingly. The small group of pioneers who conducted research on the disease in the 1970s has expanded to thousands of scientists in laboratories and institutions all over the world.
The lead agency for Alzheimer's research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the National Institute on Aging (NIA), which launched its Alzheimer's disease program in 1978. Since then, the study of this disease has become one of NIA's top priorities. Several other NIH institutes also conduct and sponsor studies on Alzheimer's disease, including the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the National Institute of Mental Health, and the National Institute of Nursing Research.
In the private sector, the Alzheimer's Association, other voluntary organizations, and private industry are also working to combat this disease. They fund research, contribute to public policy decisions, inform and educate the public, and provide critical services to people with Alzheimer's disease and their families. Their support for research is critical in the effort to understand and defeat this disorder.
Thanks to these many groups, the study of Alzheimer's disease is moving ahead rapidly. This booklet explains what Alzheimer's disease is, describes what we have learned to date, and provides a glimpse into future directions for research.
Next >>
