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This excerpt taken from the ELN 20-F filed Feb 28, 2007. NEURODEGENERATIVE
DISEASES
In addition to Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s
disease, neurodegenerative diseases encompass other disorders
that are characterized by changes in normal neuronal function.
In most cases of degenerative disease, the risk of these changes
increases with age, and the disease progression itself is
progressive. Currently, neurodegenerative diseases are generally
considered incurable. Several drugs are approved to alleviate
some symptoms of some neurodegenerative diseases.
Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative brain disorder that
primarily affects older persons. Alzheimer’s disease can
begin with forgetfulness and progress into more advanced
symptoms, including confusion, language disturbances,
personality and behavior changes, impaired judgment and profound
dementia. As the disease advances, most patients will eventually
need complete skilled nursing care, and in the absence of other
illnesses, the progressive loss of brain function itself will
likely cause death.
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive degenerative
neurologic movement disorder that destroys nerve cells in the
part of the brain responsible for muscle control and movement.
This creates problems walking, maintaining balance and
coordination in patients diagnosed with the disease.
This excerpt taken from the ELN 20-F filed Mar 30, 2006. About
Neurodegenerative Diseases
In addition to Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s
disease, neurodegenerative diseases encompass other disorders
that are characterized by changes in normal neuronal function.
In most cases of degenerative disease, the risk of these changes
increases with age, and the disease progression itself is
progressive. Currently, neurodegenerative diseases are generally
considered incurable. Several drugs are approved to alleviate
some symptoms of some neurodegenerative diseases.
Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative brain disorder that
primarily affects older persons. In the United States, an
estimated 4.5 million people, most of them over
age 65, have Alzheimer’s disease, and the disease is
thought to afflict half of all Americans over 85.
Alzheimer’s disease can begin with forgetfulness and
progress into more advanced symptoms, including confusion,
language disturbances, personality and behavior changes,
impaired judgment and profound dementia. As the disease
advances, most patients will eventually need complete skilled
nursing care, and in the absence of other illnesses, the
progressive loss of brain function itself will cause death.
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive degenerative
neurologic movement disorder that destroys nerve cells in the
part of the brain responsible for muscle control and movement.
This creates problems walking, maintaining balance and
coordination in patients diagnosed with the disease.
Parkinson’s disease typically occurs later in life, with an
average age of onset of slightly over 62 years for
U.S. patients. In the United States, there are an estimated
500,000 to 1.5 million people with Parkinson’s
disease, and approximately 50,000 new patients are diagnosed
each year. It is estimated that four million people worldwide
suffer from Parkinson’s disease.
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