DNA AND CELL BIOLOGY

ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE (AD) is a neurodegenerative disordercharacterized by the deposition of amyloid protein in areas of the brain that are important for memory and cognition. This deposition is thought to be an important component of the pathol-ogy of AD. Due, in part, to the aging baby boomer population, AD is beginning to approach epidemic proportions in the indus-trialized world such as in the United States: it is estimated that by the year 2025, there will be approximately 22 million cases of AD worldwide, with at least 10 million being in the U.S. alone. Such a large number of AD patients will have the potential to cripple the health care system. These onerous predictions underscore the necessity for the development of effective therapies for AD. During the last 2 years, an exciting novel technology that may combat AD has generated considerable interest: an experimental vaccine that targets the b-amyloid protein within the amyloid plaque in the brains of patients suffering from AD. In the sum