U.S. Representative Al Lawson has helped to secure a $396,048 grant for FAMU from the National Institute on Aging for important for Alzheimers research.
The grant will allow FAMU researchers the opportunity to study the early differences of Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) from Alzheimer’s disease by using imaging biomarkers.
LBD is a disease associated with abnormal deposits of a protein in the brain can lead to problems with thinking, movement, behavior and mood.
“I am proud of the life-saving work that Florida A&M University is doing to identify Lewy Body Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in their early stages,” Rep. Lawson said. “The use of imaging machines to identify key biomarkers can lead to further information of the differences between LBD and Alzheimer’s and allow physicians to provide better care for their patients.”
Officials say currently there are no explicit biomarkers used to track the progression and treatment of Lewy Body Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Further, the similarities in symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and LBD make it difficult to differentiate between the two diseases.
African Americans develop Alzheimer’s at a higher rate than any other group of older Americans. They are about twice as likely as non-Hispanic whites to develop the disease or other forms of dementia, according to the Alzheimer’s Association, a group that focuses on research, care and education.
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Rep. Lawson, a FAMU grad, represents Florida's 5th Congressional District, which includes FAMU, serves on the Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease, where he works to advance research and public awareness of the disease.