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The American
Academy of Neurology has awarded the 2005 Potamkin Prize
for Research in Pick's, Alzheimer's and Related Diseases
to John C. Morris, M.D., the Friedman Distinguished
Professor of Neurology and director of the Alzheimer's
Disease Research Center (ADRC) at Washington University
School of Medicine in St. Louis.
The annual prize honors scientists for outstanding contributions
to the understanding and treatment of Alzheimer's disease
and related disorders. It is regarded as the most prestigious
prize in Alzheimer's research. Ronald Petersen, M.D.,
Ph.D., of the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at
the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine also was awarded
the prize this year.
Morris and Petersen were recognized for their pioneering
efforts in early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.
Among other accomplishments, Morris' research team refined
the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) system, which was
first developed by the founding director of the ADRC,
Leonard Berg, M.D., professor emeritus of neurology.
The CDR now is the standard clinical measure for staging
of dementia. Morris' studies have helped clinicians
better distinguish between the normal effects of aging
on memory and the earliest clinical symptoms of Alzheimer's
disease.
The impetus to find ways to diagnose Alzheimer's disease
earlier stems from a growing awareness of the extent
of Alzheimer's brain damage prior to clinical symptoms.
Morris, Joseph L. Price, Ph.D., professor of anatomy
and neurobiology, and others at the ADRC contributed
significantly to this awareness through a series of
studies that revealed widespread brain damage in patients
only recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's.
"Our studies illustrate why I accept individual
prizes on behalf of the entire ADRC, because they truly
represent the group effort of many wonderful colleagues,"
says Morris.
Morris is the third researcher affiliated with the Washington
University ADRC to receive the Potamkin prize. Previous
Washington University recipients are Alison M. Goate,
D. Phil., the Samuel and Mae S. Ludwig Professor of
Genetics in Psychiatry, professor of genetics and of
neurology; and David M. Holtzman, M.D., the Andrew B.
and Gretchen P. Jones Professor and Charlotte and Paul
Hagemann Professor and head of the Department of Neurology.
According to Morris, this record reflects the extraordinary
nature of the ADRC, which celebrates its 20th anniversary
this year.
"First, it indicates that we have a very talented,
productive and innovative group of investigators,"
he says. "Second, these awards reflect the environment
in which we work, in terms of our terrific staff and
the dedicated volunteers who participate in our studies."
With current studies using new brain-imaging agents
and other advanced techniques, Morris and his colleagues
soon hope to be able to diagnose Alzheimer's disease
well before the onset of symptoms.
"In the past 10 years, five drugs have been approved
by the FDA for treatment of the symptoms of Alzheimer's
disease," Morris says. "In the next 10 years,
I predict that we'll be evaluating interventions that
not only help the symptoms but also target the underlying
factors that cause illness. These treatments will have
their optimal benefit when they are introduced at the
earliest possible stage of Alzheimer's, perhaps even
offering hope of preventing the disorder."
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