| BackgroundAlzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized histopathologically by beta-amyloid (Aβ)-containing senile plaque, neurofibrillary tangle and loss of neuron in selected brain areas, and clinically by progressive dementia. It is the most common cause of senile dementia of later life and a major cause of disability and death in the elderly of western countries. Currently there are more than 12 million individuals affected with AD worldwide, and it is projected that the prevalence will nearly quadruple in the next 50 years, by which time approximately 45 million will be afflicted with the disease. AD is also the third most expensive health condition in the United States, thus a huge burden for the families and the society.China has been facing a very serious and irreversible situation of population aging during 21st century. Since 1999 China's population has become aged with the most amount of old people in the world. According to calculation based on the current prevalence data, it is estimated that there will be 8 to 12 million AD patients in China by 2050.With such a huge prevalence and expensive medical cost, the prevention and treatment for AD become the priority of the public health communities worldwide. However, no treatment with a strong disease-modifying effect is currently available. It is of great importance and interest to develop effective approaches which are able to prevent the incidence of, delay the onset of and arrest the progress of AD.With regard to this purpose, an experimental study and an epidemiological study were conducted: 1. to explore the efficiency and safety of Aβclearance from the brain of a transgenic AD mouse model, by transfecting a gene encoding an anti-Aβsingle chain antibody variable fragment (scFv). 2. to investigate the association between leisure activity and cognitive impairment in the elderly in a five years longitudinal prospective study.
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