Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common causative brain disease of primary dementia in the elderly. The incidence of AD rises exponentially with age. Many countries, where the aging population is a national problem, have to face how to cope with AD. The main strategies against AD include the estimation of the exact size of the problem, the elucidation of etiology of AD, the development of effective treatment, and the establishment of the caring system for AD sufferers in the community. A recent fruit of the research is the new cholinomimetic agent E2020 (Donepezil), which is a highly selective acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. As a result of clinical trials, statistically significant improvements were seen in cognitive function of AD patients. However, E2020 is one of the neurotransmitter substitution therapies and is not specifically linked to the etiological treatment. We have to make efforts to establish a definitive therapy for AD and this depends on basic research, such as the molecular biology of AD. Many AD patients and their families expect fruitful result from this symposium, which will be a big milestone for the research of AD toward the 21st Century.
