Introduction

In 1906, a German physician named Alois Alzheimer discovered a fatal and progressive brain disorder. Later named Alzheimer’s disease, this brain deficiency has become much more well-known and researched throughout the years following its discovery.
As Alzheimer’s disease progresses it claims and destroys cells in the brain. This causes the patient to have trouble thinking clearly and leads to major memory loss. Soon, these problems escalate and effect several other parts of everyday life. As the disease advances, it takes over several parts of a once fully functioning brain and leads to death.

Currently there are 5.3 million elderly Americans living with this brain disease. As the most widespread form of dementia, it has also been identified as the seventh-leading cause of death in the United States.**

Although this disease has no cure, many treatments and services can help patients and their families manage difficult symptoms. In helping with the ongoing effort to find more efficient and effective ways to prevent and treat the disease, our group has decided to join a grid computing service to aid in Alzheimer’s research (see Links).

**information found at http://www.alz.org/


http://www.pakmed.net/academic/age/alz/alz029.htm