THE ALZHEIMER'S LEGACY LAb at The University of Minnesota

The Curing Alzheimer’s Disease Foundation (CAD Foundation), has announced their agreement to comprehensively fund the Alzheimer’s Legacy Lab at the University of Minnesota medical school. This lab will be investigating the Microbial/Infectious Hypothesis of Alzheimer’s that theorizes that bacteria from our body is the likely cause of Alzheimer’s. Currently, there are approximately 6.7 million individuals in the United States living with this condition. As age is the primary risk factor, and with the last of the baby boomer generation approaching their 60s, this figure is projected to climb significantly. By 2025, the number of affected individuals is anticipated to reach 7.1million in the US alone.

Interestingly, just behind age, the next highest risk factor associated with Alzheimer’s Disease is periodontal (gum) disease, as indicated by the fact that roughly 80% of Alzheimer’s patients have gum disease, while only 40%-60% have diabetes, and only 20%-40% have heart disease. And of these other conditions, only gum disease effects how fast Alzheimer’s progresses. To this point, studies confirm a 1:1 relationship between gum disease severity and the speed at which the cognition of an Alzheimer’s patient declines. And for years we have known an individual’s risk for developing Alzheimer’s increases with every tooth they lose to periodontal disease.

The close proximity between the mouth and the mind, coupled with the fact that the mouth shares the same blood supply as the region in the brain specifically impacted by Alzheimer’s Disease just adds to the story. 

With the rates of both Periodontal Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease rising worldwide, (83.4% and 147.9% respectively), scientists at the UMN’s Alzheimer’s Legacy Lab expect to better explain the relationship between these highly connected diseases, and hope to offer insight into new therapies designed to slow the cognitive decline in some Alzheimer’s patients as they work toward discovering an Alzheimer’s treatment. 

And by the fact that the Curing Alzheimer’s Disease Foundation has agreed to indefinitely sponsor this lab as long as continued discovery occurs, the University’s research into finding a cure to Alzheimer’s will have the greatest opportunity to succeed.

Why the name Alzheimer’s Legacy Lab?

According to The Curing Alzheimer’s Disease Foundation president, Anna Shelander, part of their agreement to fully sponsor this UMN lab included the ability to give the lab a unique name. “We chose “The Alzheimer’s Legacy Lab” in honor of all the legacies that have lost their lives to this disease that we intend to have a hand in curing.” Shelander said. “With a spotlight on my father, Dr. David E. Crandall DDS whose drug interventions over the last seven years of his life, protected his brain from the ravages of Alzheimer’s – and the drugs he took support that oral bacteria is intimately involved in Alzheimer’s Disease. It’s my dad’s brave story that will unquestionably enhance our understanding of this disease, and quite possibly other neurodegenerative diseases as well.” 

The Curing Alzheimer’s Disease Foundation has made a commitment to deliver the latest updates on Alzheimer’s Disease research worldwide and updates from the University of Minnesota Alzheimer’s Legacy Lab from right here on our website and through a bi-annual newsletter - complete the contact us form and you'll be added to our subscription list. 

The Curing Alzheimer’s Disease  Foundation (501(c) (3) is the only sponsoring partner of the University of Minnesota Alzheimer’s Legacy Lab.

So please consider helping the World find an Alzheimer's Cure by donating to the Curing Alzheimer's Disease Foundation today.  

The Curing Alzheimer's Disease Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit located in the Minneapolis/Saint Paul area of Minnesota.