Alzheimer's Disease

Frequently Asked Questions

15. What is basic research and why is it an important part of Alzheimer's disease research?

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Basic biomedical research involves studies at the most fundamental level. It is research that helps scientists gain new knowledge about a disease process, including how and why it starts and progresses. Scientists who conduct basic research in Alzheimer's disease study the cellular and molecular processes that cause nerve cells in the brain to stop functioning and die. Basic research also looks at the role that genes may play in lowering or increasing a person's risk of developing the disease. The aim of basic research is to identify the processes that lead to Alzheimer's in order to discover therapies to fight it.