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Annotated Bibliography

The Fight Against Alzheimers

Amber Walker
Professor Malcolm Campbell
English 1103
March 14, 2016

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Annotated Bibliography
"Help End Alzheimer's." Alzheimer's Association. Publisher. 14 Mar. 2016.
The Alzheimers Association is a leading organization that has been trying to fight
Alzheimers since 1980. This website provides enormous amounts of information: what
Alzheimers is, updated research, how to get involved, a timeline of the disease and
research, myths, signs and symptoms, a detailed diagram of how it affects the brain, and
etc. The association is a well-known organization that helps provide funding for research
and educates those on Alzheimers and Dementia. This website published by the
association is intended for those with Alzheimers, their families, care givers, researchers,
and the public. This source helps to educate and allows people to stay up to date with the
latest information on the disease. This website gives everyone the opportunity to join in
on the fight and even gives the opportunity to be updated weekly via an eNewsletter. This
source will be helpful in my paper because it not only provides evidence and research,
but educates me and helps me understand the basics of Alzheimers. Having a better
understanding of the disease itself allows me to understand the developments in research
and how the drugs affect the brain on a deeper scientific level. This source will definitely
appear in my topic because it will help provide most of the basic information as well as
the information on current research.
Hensley, Scott. "Failure Of Lilly Drug Is Latest Alzheimer's Setback." NPR. NPR, 24 Aug. 2012.
Web. 14 Mar. 2016.
This developed article from National Public Radio addresses the failures of the new and
old drugs for Alzheimers patients. Eli Lily & Company agreed to drop the recently tested

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drug Solanezumab because it received no positive response from Alzheimers patients.

Those given the placebo showed the same results for memory and thinking as those who
were given the drug every four weeks. In addition, it touched on the failure of older drugs
such as Pfizer and Johnson & Johnsons Bapineuzumab and another of Eli Lily & Co.s
drug, each similar to Solanezumab. This article was written by Dr. Scott Hensley whose
research is focused on influenza at the University of Pennsylvania. Although in Hensleys
articles he does not use specific sources it still informs the audience of the outcomes of
new drugs and treatments. The intended audience of this article is anyone who is
interested in the current research for finding a cure for Alzheimers patients. Hensley is
objective in his views by including a statement from two opposing sides; The
Alzheimers Association which states that even though the research did not hit its
intended target they believe it is a step in the right direction, as well as a drug industry
consultant, Sally Church who stated that it was unfair to make the patients have hope in
something that is not as effective as they were led to believe. This source shows the facts
that the drugs are not as effective compared to another one of my sources that believes
they are finding new development in the drugs each day. This source was helpful because
it shows a different side to the argument and provides examples of the types of drugs
which have not worked. I may not use this source in my paper though because it does not
give enough specifics, but I believe it will allow me to find a source that digs deeper and
provides a better understanding of more of why the drugs do not work rather than just
which drugs have not worked.

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Miller, G. "The Puzzling Rise and Fall of a Dark-Horse Alzheimer's Drug." Science 327.5971
(2010): 1309. Jstor. Web. 14 Mar. 2016.
This source is a scholarly journal published by the American Association for the
Advancement of Science. The article starts by introducing the drug Dimebon, an
antihistamine, that took the world by surprise. The drug was a doubtful cure for
Alzheimers but in 2008 seemed to have a decent chance. This article continues by
summarizing the history of the drug and how it made its way to the United States.
Dimebon originated in Chernogolovka, Russia where it was discovered by scientists such
as Sergery Bachurin, who noticed its positive affect on the performance of memoryimpaired rats. Bachurin then traveled to the US where he convinced David Hung, a
biotech entrepreneur, to establish the company Medivation. Hung gathered many elite
experts such as a neurologist Paul Aisen and Dr. Rachel Doody of Baylor College of
Medicine to begin clinical trials for the drug. The drug was outstanding and although
some were skeptical due to the lack of supporting evidence, the faith in the top scientists
was enough to undermine the lack of evidence. The first trial led those to believe a
breakthrough had been made. The next part of the article, the main purpose, explained the
second trial and most recent of the drug. This trials results showed no contrast between
the placebo and Dimebon. Although different trials can have negative impacts before the
drug is approved, Medivation and others have been skeptical about the likelihood of
another positive result. They are still pursuing the drug but believe that soon it will result
in just another setback in Alzheimers research. This article is written by Greg Miller who
is a science journalist. It is a reliable source because of Millers background in scientific
development. Miller also gives specific examples and a detailed description of the history

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of the drug. The purpose of this scholarly journal is to educate and provide insight on yet
another Alzheimers drug that suggests more disappointment for Alzheimers research.
The intended audience for this entry is any one with the disease, their families,
researchers and others curious in the developments of Alzheimers. This source provides
more support for one side of the argument. This source was useful because it presents
another example of a failed attempt and provides detailed background information of the
drug itself. I will use this source in my paper as detailed support and another example.
Norris, Michelle. "Current Treatments for Alzheimer's Limited." NPR. NPR, 12 Apr. 2005. Web.
14 Mar. 2016.
This developed article from National Public Radio gives a summary of Alzheimers and
touches on different aspects such as the risks, causes, treatments and clinical trials. It
explains what Alzheimers is and early symptoms such as memory loss, problems with
language skills, and the ability to complete everyday tasks. The article touches on and
provides specific examples of two medicines, Cholinesterase Inhibitors and Memantine,
that are FDA approved to help treat Alzheimers patients. It concludes with the
progression of clinical trials through the years that seemed to be beneficial to helping the
disease. The main point-of-view of this article is that finding a cure and the development
of the treatments are moving in the right direction. Michelle Norris, a respected journalist
and previous host for NPR, provides detailed examples and background information on
the study of Alzheimers and prevention. Norris is objective in her views by only stating
facts rather than her own opinions. This popular source is credible because NPR is well
respected and Norris also cites several sources to support her facts and it is reliable
because the facts came from the Alzheimers Association. The main point is to enlighten

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those with new developments and also educate people on the basics of the disease. Again,
the audience intended for this article are those affected with the disease, their families,
researchers, and the general public. This source is helpful in my bibliography because it
helps support one side of the argument while it also is a different, more positive view that
helps contrast the other sources. This article is useful because it provided two examples
of treatments that have been verified to help and also explains the basics of the drugs and
how they are effective. I will use this source in my EIP because it will also help support
the evidence I will be using in my paper.