[Dublin, Ireland] – Alltech, a pioneer in the area of animal nutrition and its impact on gene expression (Nutrigenomics), is proud to announce the commencement of a transatlantic lecture series in conjunction with the University of Kentucky, USA and University College Dublin, Ireland. The inaugural lecture titled Alzheimer’s Disease: Pathogenesis, Early Detection and Prevention will be given by leading US neurogeneticist Dr. William Markesbery on September 25, 2008 at University College Dublin, Ireland.

Dr. Markesbery is recognised globally as a pre-eminent researcher of Alzheimer’s disease. As a professor of pathology (neuropathology) and neurology and director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Center and the Sanders-Brown Center of Aging, University of Kentucky, he has worked to elucidate the causes of dementia for over 30 years.

“The intention of the Alltech lecture is to foster academic cooperation aimed at furthering research and collaboration between University College Dublin and the University of Kentucky.  It is an honour to host Dr. Markesbery for the Alltech lecture. His significant contributions to the study of Alzheimer’s disease have been instrumental in moving us closer to an understanding of this debilitating disease.” said Dr. Pearse Lyons, president and founder of Alltech.

Dr. Markesbery’s pioneering research discounted the once-popular theory that an accumulation of toxic metals such as aluminium play a role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Instead, Dr. Markesbery found that beta amyloid peptides promote neurodegeneration by inducing a free-oxygen radical process called lipid peroxidation in nerve cell membranes. The role of oxidative damage in neurodegeneration and Alzheimer’s disease is now a widely-held theory.

According to Prof. William Powderly, head of the school of medicine and medical sciences, University College Dublin, “The inaugural Alltech lecture between the University of Kentucky and University College Dublin will facilitate collaboration between two centres of academic excellence. The focus of this lecture is extremely relevant, considering the baseline cost of dementia in Ireland was estimated at €400m in 2006 and the total worldwide societal cost was estimated at somewhere in the region of US$315.4 billion in 2005.”

University of Kentucky, President, Lee T. Todd Jr., stated, “The Alltech transatlantic lecture provides both University of Kentucky and University College Dublin an opportunity to develop ideas that will drive the solutions and technologies of the future. We look forward to this collaboration and certainly appreciate Alltech’s vision to bring our universities together for the benefit of our students, faculties, and the joint research results and educational opportunities they will accomplish.”

For further information and to register for the lecture please e-mail: annesarah.gibbons@ucd.ie

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