Dear Friends,
 
June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month and we are encouraged to report that despite the many challenges the COVID-19 outbreak presented, it did not slow down our memory disorders clinical care or research efforts. Some of our exciting recent advances in memory and Alzheimer’s disease research include:
 
  • A new groundbreaking study, led by Rudolph Tanzi, PhD, director of Mass General's Genetics and Aging Research Unit,  identifying 13 gene mutations that can provide important clues for restoring communication in the brain. “All this work is done with an eye toward accelerating the development of drugs that will make a meaningful difference to our patients — slowing, reversing, and ultimately, preventing Alzheimer’s disease,” says Tanzi. 

  • Bonnie Gardner, along with her children Philip, Laura, Sarah and Timothy, have made a $1M gift to establish the Harrison Gardner, Jr. Innovation Award to inspire the next generation of investigators to think outside the box when researching and developing treatments and therapies for Alzheimer’s and other dementias.

Our integrated research and clinical care programs are making us hopeful about our progress toward effective treatments to slow, reverse and ultimately prevent memory loss and related dementia. These are exciting times in the field of Memory Disease research and we will continue our cutting-edge efforts to ultimately discover future treatments and cures for memory loss and dementia. We hope that you will support us in those efforts. Please continue reading for more details on our progress.
 
Warmly,

Teresa
 
Dr. Teresa Gomez-Isla
Memory Disorders Division Chief
DISCOVERIES OFFER NEW HOPE FOR ALZHEIMER'S PATIENTS
In April, a team of experts led by scientists at Massachusetts General Hospital, announced groundbreaking study results — the identification of 13 new gene mutations that contribute to Alzheimer’s disease. The discovery revealed important connections between the disease and damage to synapses, the junctions that transmit information across neural networks. The new information will help identify drugs that can repair synapses. These repairs may also restore neuroplasticity, the ability of neurons to reorganize the brain’s neural network and allow cognitive functions to continue at a healthy level. Read the full story.
GARDNER INNOVATION AWARD
The Harrison Gardner, Jr. Innovation Award was established in June 2021 with a $1M gift from Bonnie Gardner, along with her children Philip, Laura, Sarah and Timothy, in memory of her late husband. Led by the Director of the Massachusetts Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (MADRC), Dr. Brad Hyman, the gift will provide funding to an annual Gardner Innovation fellow pursuing cutting edge and out of the box ideas on how to better understand and treat Alzheimer’s disease.
 
Funding for young investigators not only supports Alzheimer’s disease research at Mass General, but also advances the findings across the field. Young investigator training, education and mentorship are essential to the Department of Neurology’s mission of excellence in teaching the next generation, and we are grateful for the Gardner’s generous gift to support this effort. 
JOIN A COMMUNITY FUNDRAISER!
Join us on Sunday, July 25th, as we virtually walk/run together at the first annual Miles for Mike to raise funds for Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) research and care!
CONTACT US
Philanthropy is what makes our rapid progress possible. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about how you can support our progress to the cures, please visit our donation webpage or contact Bridget Flynn, Director of Development. 
Learn more about the Memory Disorders Division.

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