An estimated five million Americans, including some 60,000 in San Diego, have Alzheimer’s disease. With the Boomer generation fast becoming "of a certain age," that number is expected to rise dramatically.
The societal impact will doubtless be widespread, not just in the homes of the diagnosed but by their caregivers, their loved ones, their communities, and beyond.
The Brain Channel’s flagship series, On Our Mind, is taking a close look at Alzheimer’s disease.
Join Dr. William C. Mobley, distinguished professor and chair of the Department of Neurosciences at UC San Diego, for his series of in-depth conversations with experts from the front lines of this disease.
Together, they discuss current and potential therapies, testing, clinical trials, neuropathology, public policy — and much more, as follows:
Alzheimer’s Disease, Cure and Care: Are public health agencies equipped to treat the expected caseload? San Diego County Supervisor Dianne Jacob discusses how to better manage patients and the disease from a public policy standpoint.
Stem Cells and Alzheimer’s Disease: Will stem cells be an effective weapon against Alzheimer’s disease? Larry Goldstein, director of the UC San Diego Stem Cell Program, discusses how stem cells work and what possibilities they may unlock.
The Anatomy of Memory: How do we create and store memories — and why are they lost? Larry Squire, UC San Diego professor of psychiatry, neurosciences, and psychology, and research career scientist at San Diego’s VA Medical Center, examines these processes and how we might use this knowledge to aid in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease.
The Role of Synapses in Memory: Can our "lost" memories be restored? Roberto Malinow, UC San Diego professor of neurobiology and neurosciences, discusses his recent study where memories were not only erased but restored in rats. Learn how findings of this study could lead to breakthroughs in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.