4.5 million Americans have the crippling disease of Alzheimer's. 10 million baby boomers will develop Alzheimer's. A new person is diagnoised with Alzheimer's every 71 seconds, and Alzheimer's is the seventh leading cause of death.

With these startling statistics, can anything be done to save our brains from this horrific deterioration? Will more seniors be able to avoid falling victim to Alzheimer's as the elderly population increases? Are we finally getting close to a cure?

One of the biggest problems for an Alzheimer's cure has been finding a way to stop deadly plaques from forming in the brains of patients. If the disease has progressed past an early diagnosis, drugs need to be safely delivered to the affected areas to destroy plaque build-up.

Here are three dramatic new discoveries which are now giving millions more hope for a future cure.

1. Gene Transfer Therapy: Dr. Zoe Arvanitakis of the Rush University Medical Center is currently working with gene transfer. By inserting tiny needles into the brain's area affected by Alzheimer's, he believes the drug CERE 110 can be delivered directly where is its needed.

CERE110's purpose is to stimulate nerve growth, but not to spread the drug throughout the brain which could cause side effects.

Current trials are showing a great deal of promise. The very first patient in the trial, Ron Shellady, claims he is no longer losing his memory. It is still too early to gage long lasting results but CERE 110 shows promise.

2. Nutritional Combat: As more studies about Alzheimer's and diet are coming in, more evidence seems to be pointing to diet as a deterrent to the disease.

The interesting discovery made by the Aberdeen University researchers is that people who eat diets rich in omega-3 oils do better on mental tests. This is strong indication the omega-3 oils may actually help slow down the early stages of Alzheimer's.

Omega-3 oils are found in walnut oil, flaxseed oil, canola oil and fish such as Salmon. How do Omega-3 oils work? According to Greg Cole, professor of medicine and neurology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, these oils expand the productions of LR11, an important protein that runs low in Alzheimer's patients.

LR11's function is to destroy harmful proteins which form dangerous plaques which destroy nerve cells in the brain. Plaque build-up is one of the major problems caused by the disease.

3. Molecular Attacks: German scientists are researching ways to prevent harmful brain plaques from forming in the first place. The fact that an enzyme called beta-secretase causes plaque damage is nothing new, but how to deliver well targeted drugs to the damaged areas has been puzzling researchers for some time.

The Germans have discovered that by blocking beta-secretase via the blood, this harmful enzyme can be better targeted, without harming other brain cells. What is needed now is to find a way around the blood-brain barrier which guards the brain from most molecules entering it. If scientists can get past this natural wall they will be closer to delivering the beta secretase inhibitor to target only those areas where the therapy is needed.

Alzheimer's is one of the most deadly diseases of old age because it robs the brain of its ability to function. This keeps many elderly people in nursing homes and away from their own homes and families. It is heart-wrenching for their loved ones to helplessly watch their mental and physical decline.

Although Alzheimer's was first discovered over 100 years ago, most of what we now know about the disease has been learned within the last fifteen years. As scientists from around the world work toward the common goal of fighting Alzheimer's, a final cure may be possible.