UNMC Alzheimers disease research fund established in honor of President Reagan

Omaha, Neb., June 10, 2004 – President Ronald Reagan’s patriotism
and leadership touched the hearts of many Americans. Watching his
decade-long battle with Alzheimer’s nearly broke those same hearts.
UNMC, through its research efforts, is trying to eliminate the pain of
Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative disorders.

Citizens from Nebraska can join in the fight against Alzheimer’s. A
research fund has been established at the University of Nebraska
Foundation, with all contributions directed toward UNMC to fight
Alzheimer’s disease. The fund will serve as a tribute to former
President Reagan, who passed away June 12, 2004, after a decade-long
fight with Alzheimer’s, said John Niemann, senior vice president for
the foundation.

To provide a gift now online, see the University
Alzheimer’s Research Fund at the UNMC College of Medicine
page on the NU Foundation’s Web site.

“Like so many Americans, President Reagan and his family suffered
unmercifully from this horrible disease,” said UNMC Chancellor Harold
Maurer. “At UNMC, neurodegenerative disease research is among our
highest priorities. We have tremendous expertise in this area, and
we’re working very hard to find cures for all of these devastating
diseases, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and AIDS-related dementia.”

Currently, the Nebraskans suffering from Alzheimer’s disease could
fill Memorial Stadium. With Baby Boomers reaching retirement age and
life expectancies increasing, the number of the state’s citizens who
suffer from the disease will reach 100,000 in just a few years.

UNMC, through its research efforts, is trying to reverse that trend.
With more than $8 million in research in neurodegenerative disorders,
UNMC is studying the basic science and clinical treatments of
Alzheimer’s disease, including new drug therapies.

“This disease does not respect even presidents,” said Jane Potter,
Harris Professor of Geriatric Medicine and chief of the section of
geriatrics and gerontology at UNMC. “It robs its victims of the
vitality and personality that has endeared them to us. Families are
equal victims. The loss of this great man provides an opportunity to
increase efforts to find a cure and reduce the suffering of many
Americans in the future.”

Howard Gendelman, director of the Center for Neurovirology and
Neurodegenerative Disorders (CNND) at UNMC, is among the nation’s top
researchers in brain disease. He has $5.5 million in federal funding to
research neurodegenerative diseases.

Niemann said several private gifts over the past several years have
assisted UNMC in its Alzheimer’s research efforts. Notable among those
is the Vada Kinman Oldfield Alzheimer’s Research Fund. The late Col.
Barney Oldfield established the research fund at UNMC in 1999 in honor
of his wife, who died that year after an 11-year battle with
Alzheimer’s disease.

“Barney saw the devastating effects that Alzheimer’s disease can
have, and he wanted deeply to see a cure developed,” Niemann said.
“There are many other Nebraskans who share that wish. This is an
opportunity for us to take positive action related to this destructive
disease that affects so many Nebraskans and families across our nation.
It’s a great way to pay tribute to a president whose family fought
valiantly against the disease.”

Gifts can be made online at www.nufoundation.org (See University
Alzheimer’s Research Fund at UNMC College of Medicine page) or by
sending a check made payable to the University of Nebraska Foundation
to: