The four neuroscientists, Bart De Strooper, Michel Goedert, Christian Haass, and John Hardy, receive The Brain Prize for crucial research on Alzheimer's disease. Their research have provided the foundation for treatment of one of the most devastating diseases of our era. For this, they are receiving the world's most valuable prize for brain research, The Lundbeck Foundation Brain Prize, worth 1 million euros.

Denmark sees 7,500 new cases of dementia every year, changing the lives of Danish families for ever. People with dementia gradually lose their memories, their personalities change and they lose the ability to function in their daily lives. In Denmark, 80,000 patients already live with some form of dementia – and, little by little, their brain cells are destroyed. Around 50,000 of these patients have Alzheimer's disease.

There is still no cure for dementia such as Alzheimer's; we can only provide medication for temporary alleviation of symptoms. But thanks to four leading European scientists and their many years of intense research in the laboratory, the way is now paved for better treatment and, in time, prevention.Together, these four internationally respected neuroscientists have revolutionized our understanding of the harmful changes in the brain that lead to Alzheimer's disease. Their research achievements form the basis for development of the drugs that are currently tested as therapies for the disease.

The organisation behind the prize is the Lundbeck Foundation, one of Denmark's largest sponsors of biomedical research. The chairman of the foundation’s Selection Committee, Professor Anders Björklund, explains the reasoning behind the award:

“The research of the four prizewinners has far-reaching perspectives for our understanding not only of Alzheimer's disease but of other dementia disorders, too. Their research has provided a foundation for the design of drugs to counter the pathogenic processes. This gives us hope that we will be able to slow Alzheimer's disease and, perhaps, even prevent it.” 

The Brain Prize, which honours the world’s best neuroscientists, is being awarded for the eighth successive year. The prizewinners are invited to Denmark to deliver lectures and to participate in conferences, meetings and workshops together with Danish brain researchers. The programme is organised in partnership with the three largest Danish universities, the Danish Society for Neuroscience and the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS).

The scientists will come to Denmark on 9 May to receive the Brain Prize at a ceremony in the Royal Danish Library Black Diamonds Building.