What do the populations of Iceland (approx. 290,000) and metro Atlanta (3.5 million) have in common? Very little. Which is one of the reasons why Emory neurologist Allan Levey, who is internationally recognized for his pioneering work in Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease, recently teamed up with Icelandic researchers to study the links between genes and diseases.

Since the mid-1990s, the Icelandic company deCODE genetics has been conducting population-wide studies to uncover the genetic factors involved in common diseases.

Because Iceland has one of the most homogenous populations in the world (with almost no immigrants since Vikings settled the island in the 9th century) and keeping family genealogies is practically a national pastime, researchers at deCODE have made much progress sorting through genes and identifying those responsible for complex diseases.

In the last few years, deCODE researchers have made several significant discoveries, among them identifying genes linked to strokes and schizophrenia.

However, because the Icelandic population is so genetically consistent, the next step after finding a suspect gene in Iceland is to determine if the gene has significance worldwide. That's where Emory and Atlanta's geographically and ethnically diverse population enter the picture.

A few years ago, deCODE contacted Levey and Dr. David Rye in the Department of Neurology to see if they were interested in a collaboration. The answer was yes, and a formal strategic alliance was announced in August 2002. Now the strengths of Emory's neurology department -- one of the best in the U.S. -- are combined with consenting patients in Atlanta to see if certain Icelandic genes are important across the globe.

For Levey, the collaboration with deCODE is another opportunity to unravel the causes of Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, both age-related and irreversible brain disorders that place a huge burden* on individuals, families, the health care system and society. He has been interested in the underlying mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease since his days as a graduate student at the University of Chicago, where he and Dr. Rye first worked with the researchers who launched deCODE.

If researchers are able to identify the genes involved in Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, he believes this would be a major breakthrough in understanding how the diseases work and finding ways to better diagnose, cure and prevent them.

Dr. Levey is Chair of the Department of Neurology and Director of the Emory Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. The Institute for Scientific Information identified him as one of the most highly cited scientific researchers worldwide. Along with three Emory colleagues in neuroscience, Levey was one of 110 highly cited scientists in 185 countries.

Levey says the strengths of the Emory community were instrumental in forming a research alliance with deCODE.

"Emory is absolutely rich in scientists -- from basic cell biology, genetics and pharmacology to physiology. As genes are identified for these diseases, immediately there are crucial questions that come up that rely on experts in all these other fields. This whole collaboration is an opportunity for people across campus to be involved in really cutting-edge research. The collaboration also promises to help launch the new Department of Human Genetics. Dr. Steve Warren, Chairman of the Department, has also been instrumental in establishing the alliance.

"At the clinical level, the collaboration allows clinicians to help characterize patients and get them involved in genetic studies. These clinicians can play a very important role in determining if the genes can be used to identify those at risk and to improve ability to make a correct diagnosis. Then, once the genes are identified, other Emory researchers can determine how the genes actually cause the disease at a very basic level."

Levey feels that the Center for Neurodegenerative Disease is a prime example of Emory's remarkable collaborative spirit. Faculty who teach, perform research and provide clinical care at the center come from many different basic and clinical departments, from different professional schools and Emory College, and even from different institutions in Atlanta and Georgia.

*As more people live longer, the number of people affected by these diseases is also expected to grow. Scientists believe that up to 4 million people in the U.S. currently suffer from Alzheimer's disease, with an estimated 35 million people now aged 65 and older. In 50 years, however, the U.S. Bureau of the Census estimated that number will doubls, with nearly 70 million people aged 65 and older