The Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute (BRNI) opened its doors on Friday to Alzheimer’s research. The institute was founded in honor of US Senator Jay Rockefeller’s mother nine years ago and is located on the campus of West Virginia University. The facility will be providing state-of-the-art laboratory space and support research activities for 125 scientists and researchers working on finding a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease and other memory disorders.

“This Forum allows us the opportunity to communicate and disseminate an understanding of how memory works and how it becomes dysfunctional through groundbreaking research that will inform and learn new insights into advancing the prevention, diagnosis and treatment for memory disorders,” Dr. Daniel Alkon, Scientific Director of BRNI said.

Sen. Rockefeller on his turn said he is optimistic that researchers at the new center can make great strides to help Alzheimer’s patients.

The $30-million project is the only research institute in the world that will be dedicated to both the advanced study of the brain and memory disorders.

According to the estimates of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, there are currently about 5 million Americans with Alzheimer's disease. Globally, the disease affects more than 26 million people. One in 20 people with ages ranging from 65 to 74 and almost half of those with ages over 85 are affected by the terrible condition.

Alzheimer’s is a terminal and degenerative disease for which there is no known cure. The most common symptom is memory loss, as well as difficulty to remember recently learned facts. Sometimes, the condition could not be diagnosed for years. The best way to reduce the risk of dementia is to eat a balanced diet, to exercise regularly and to give up smoking and drinking, which influence the development of the Alzheimer’s.