WUSTL neuroscientist David Holtzman and colleagues have devised a test that shows whether an experimental medication has a chance of working in Alzheimer's patients.

References:

1. June 30, 2009 — David Holtzman: Attacking Alzheimer's With a New Test for Amyloid Beta in the U.S. News & World Report online

People who carry two copies of a particular gene have roughly eight to 10 times the risk of getting Alzheimer's disease than people who do not. WUSTL neuroscientist David Holtzman and graduate student Mary Beth Finn, were among the group of scientists that conducted research for this study.

References:

1. Nov. 14, 2008 — Alzheimer's Gene Slows Brain's Ability To Export Toxic Protein in the ScienceDaily.com

Scientists who study Alzheimer's disease say they are on the brink of finding treatments to slow or stop it.
A few weeks ago, Congress voted to reduce funding for research on Alzheimer's disease.
WUSTL scientists commenting are neurology professor Anne Fagan Niven, neurology professor and chair David Holtzman, and Tom Meuser, director of education and rural outreach at WUSTL's Alzheimer's Disease Research Center.

References:

1. July 4, 2006 — Funding for Alzheimer's research is key, scientists say in the Kansas City Star

and 17 others.

WUSTL researchers said that brain cells in mice recovered rapidly after brain plaques characteristic of Alzheimer's disease were removed, offering hope that plaque-clearing treatments could benefit patients with the disease. WUSTL neurologist and senior author of the study Dave Holtzman and researcher Robert Brendza comment.

References:

1. Jan. 20, 2005 — Study suggests Alzheimer's may be reversible in the Toronto Star (Canada)
2. Jan. 21, 2005 — Researchers work to reverse Alzheimer's in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
3. Jan. 21, 2005 — Mouse Experiment Offers Alzheimer's Hope in the Associated Press Online

and 147 others.

Two proteins appear to work together in mice to prevent the formation of the brain plaques that are characteristic of Alzheimer's disease. Researchers at the School of Medicine report that the proteins clusterin and apolipoprotein E seem to orchestrate the removal of potentially hazardous molecules from the brain. "This is one of the first demonstrations in living animals that shows these proteins affect amyloid clearance," said David Holtzman, the Paul Hagemann Professor of Neurology at the School of Medicine. "Our findings suggest it is worthwhile to explore the use of drugs or therapies to alter or perhaps increase the expression of these proteins as a potential treatment for Alzheimer's disease."

References:

1. Jan. 24, 2004 — Two proteins may help prevent Alzheimer’s brain plaques in the Innovations-Report (Germany)

and 31 others.