Background

• Just this year, Alzheimer’s disease has affected the quality of life of 5.3 million Americans of all ages just this year
• It leads to a devastating loss of identity and memory, which is detrimental to not only the individual but also to their families and the society as a whole. The estimated costs of this disease were $100 billion for just 2015.

Who we are

• Team DREAM stands for: (neuro)Degeneration Research Experimenting with Alzheimer's Models
• We are a five-member, all-female and undergraduate research team in the Gemstone Honors Program at the University of Maryland, College Park under our mentor, Dr. Ricardo Araneda, who is a professor in the Department of Biology. 

What we are researching

• Neurogenesis is the process by which new neurons are developed. When neurogenesis is altered by brain damage or neurodegenerative disorders, in which neurons become non-functional or die, the brain and ultimately the rest of the body is affected.
• Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, affect millions of Americans each year and lead to devastating changes in the individual’s sense of self and abilities.
• The olfactory bulb, the part of the brain that allows you to smell, is one of the first places affected by changes in neurogenesis and has been a model for previous studies in this field. We wish to study the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on neurogenesis in the olfactory bulb, as previous studies have not clearly explained the potential link between omega-3 fatty acids and behavioral improvement in Alzheimer models.
• Through such means, new drug treatments for these diseases could be developed to reverse the decline of neurogenesis. Team DREAM aims to research prevention of Alzheimer’s disease, especially the beneficial effects of omega-3 fatty acid on the development of new neurons.
• We chose omega-3 fatty acid to research because they are substances found in plants and fish and are potentially beneficial in improving cognitive functions and general health.

Why you should support us

• Alzheimer's disease is the sixth leading cause of death in America. Two-thirds of the affected population are women. One out of three seniors die of Alzheimer's disease.
• Alzheimer's doesn't only affect the patients, but also their families and the society.
• Our research can open potential links to other neurodegenerative diseases and the effect of omega-3 fatty acid on neuronal development and behavioral improvement has yet to be researched in the olfactory bulb in Alzheimer models.
• We extremely passionate about the subject of our research, and adamant about speaking about our project to others to promote the cause. We believe that this disease continues to grow in severity throughout the world and therefore, approach our research with the goal of possible prevention.  

Gifts in support of the University of Maryland are accepted and managed by the University of Maryland College Park Foundation, Inc., an affiliated 501(c)(3) organization authorized by the Board of Regents.  Contributions to the University of Maryland are tax deductible as allowed by law.  Please see your tax advisor for details.