Role of Cholesterol in the Etiology and Pathogenesis of Alzheimer's Disease
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Presented By
Presented by the Biochemical Pharmacology Discussion Group and the American Chemical Society's New York section
Organizers: Lit-Fui Lau, Pfizer; and June Sonnenberg, Wyeth
Alzheimer's disease (AD) afflicts 4.5 million people in the United States. It poses a huge socioeconomic burden that could mushroom out of control in light of the aging population and the absence of effective treatments that slow disease progression. Although a number of familial AD genes have been identified, the majority of AD cases remain sporadic, suggesting a significant role of environmental factors in its etiology. Among these factors, cholesterol has received much attention. Association of cholesterol with AD has been revealed by epidemiology, human genetics, clinical studies, and in vitro and in vivo preclinical models. Importantly, efficacious and safe agents in regulating cholesterol metabolism are available and more are being developed. A clear understanding of the interaction between cholesterol metabolism and AD pathogenesis will help us understand broader opportunities in the treatment of this pernicious disease.
Program
1:00
Introduction
Lit-Fui Lau, Pfizer
1:10
Benjamin Wolozin, Boston University, Massachusetts, "Cholesterol, Statins and AD."
2:05
Gopal Thinakaran, The University of Chicago, Illinois, "Processing of APP in Cholesterol-Rich Membrane Microdomains."
3:00
Coffee Break
3:20
Karl Weisgraber, Gladstone Institute, University of California, San Francisco, "Role of ApoE4 Structure in AD."
4:15
Cheryl Wellington, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, "ABCA1, ApoE and Amyloid Deposition in AD."
5:10
Adjourn