To listen to Marion Gersitz of Penfield talk, you would never know she was in the early stages of Alzheimer's Disease.

“We've been very happy with the support we've been getting, with the medical treatment we've been getting,” says Gersitz who was formally diagnosed with the early stages of the disease a year ago.

Marion is on two of the most common medications to treat Alzheimer's: Aricept and Namenda.

“It's still a struggle you know, but it helps you keep your head above water,” says Gersitz.   

Marion's medications treat her symptoms, not the cause of the memory-robbing disease. However, that could all change in the next few years due to a new medication which scientists call "AAB-OO1" for short.

“This is very, very meaningful in terms of the possibility of effective treatments,  it opens a whole new sea of possibilities,” says Dr. Anton Porsteinsson an associate professor of psychiatry and Alzheimer’s disease specialist at the University of Rochester.

The IV drug targets amyloid proteins which build-up on the brain. The proteins are thought to be the root of the disease. The drug is being developed by Elan pharmaceuticals and Rochester is one of the main test sites.

“This is very big news in my book,” says Dr. Porsteinsson, “we may be able to move earlier and earlier in the disease process and hopefully at one point or another prevent the onset of the disease.”

The drug has passed its Phase 2 trial and now moves on to a huge phase three testing. If the drug proves successful, AAB-OO1 could be on the market in four years. It is good news to Marion and her husband Joe.

“It makes sense to me because I'm still struggling,” says Marion.  

“We still have our senses of humor and we laugh a lot together and we have emotional appreciation of meeting other people, interacting with them,” says Joe Gersitz.  

“We're together, we're together on this,” says Marion.  

Even if it hits the market, this drug will never be available in pill form. It will either be given via IV every three months or injected just under the skin. The Phase 3 trial is already underway at 150 sites across the country. If you feel you are eligible or know someone who might be you can call: (585) 760-6550.