Alzheimer’s disease affects millions of people worldwide generating enormous societal costs and a massive burden on many families. As yet there is no effective therapy against this form of dementia. While the amyloid protein, a molecule involved in Alzheimer’s, has been a major topic in research since many years, the Elsevier report finds that the relationship between Alzheimer’s and behavioral issues – such as sleep and learning – is increasingly shifting into focus.
International Analysis
By analyzing research published worldwide in the years 2014 to 2018 the report also identified countries and institutions generating the most scientific output on Alzheimer’s. From a country perspective, the list is headed by the United States, followed by China and the United Kingdom, with Germany on the fourth position. On the institutional side Harvard University leads the top 10, followed by the French INSERM and University College London.
Highly Cited
In addition to the number of publications, other indicators of research performance were computed. Elsevier found that about every second publication of the DZNE is among the top 10 percent of the most cited publications worldwide. Based on this criterion, the DZNE ranks third within the group of 10 institutions that produce the most research on Alzheimer’s disease.
“This study proves that the DZNE is at the forefront of research on Alzheimer’s disease”, said Prof. Pierluigi Nicotera, Chairman of the DZNE’s Executive Board. “Within its scientific field, the DZNE is one of the most productive research institutions worldwide and its research draws high attention within the scientific community. This is all the more rewarding since the DZNE, with an age of just ten years, is a relative young institution compared to other players.”
“Neurodegenerative diseases will play an increasingly important role in our aging society” said Prof. Otmar D. Wiestler, President of the Helmholtz Association. “I am very pleased that the DZNE, as one of our research centers, is one of the leading international research institutions in this field. This is top-level research at the highest international level, in line with the Helmholtz mission. We are thus making an important contribution to addressing a grand societal challenge, which affects millions of people.”
The analysis further evidences that the DZNE maintains high levels of collaboration with partners both from academia and the corporate sector: Looking again at the 10 institutions that generate the most publications the DZNE ranks third in international cooperations with other research institutions and second in collaborations with corporations.