July 19, 2010 09:29am EST 

With a mission to educate future professionals from diverse backgrounds to practice and advance knowledge in medicine and the sciences relevant to medicine, it should not come as a surprise that the Saint Louis University School of Medicine is considered one of the best institutions for humanistic medicine. Humanistic medicine, as regarded by the Saint Louis University School of medicine is a constellation of ethical and professional attitudes that reflect the Jesuit spirit and values and which affect the physician’s interactions with patients, colleagues, and society. This unique approach leads the school and its physicians to be concerned for the sanctity of human life, commit to dignity and respect in the provision of medical care, devote themselves to social justice, and maintain mature and well balanced professional behavior that derives from relationships with members of the human family and one’s Creator.
The school embraces integrated activities in basic and clinical research, in provision of patient-centered, compassionate, culturally competent health care, as well as involvement in the community through public service. With these educational experiences, students from the Saint Louis University School of Medicine are prepared for careers and leadership roles in medicine through their training and personal commitment and service to others.
The school is a leading center of research in five key areas: cancer, infectious disease, liver disease, aging and brain disorders, and heart/lung disease. In recent news, Saint Louis University scientists have discovered that low doses of the protein linked to Alzheimer’s Disease actually enhances in healthy individuals. Build up of the amyloid beta protein in the brain is linked to the development of Alzheimer’s disease, but not enough of the protein has been found to cause learning problems and forgetfulness. The findings by the scientists could lead to better medications in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.
“This research is very exciting because it causes us to look at amyloid beta protein in a different way,” said John Morley, M.D., director of the division of geriatrics at Saint Louis University and the lead researcher on the study. “After 20 years of research, what we found goes totally against long-standing beliefs about amyloid beta protein. Our results indicate that amyloid beta protein itself isn’t the bad guy. The right amount of amyloid beta protein happens to be very important for memory and learning in those who are healthy.”
The study shows that lowering amyloid beta too much in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease may cause as many problems as if you had an excess of the protein. The revelation that Alzheimer’s disease is, in fact, a case of “too much of a good thing” is groundbreaking to researchers of the disease.
Since 1836, Saint Louis University School of Medicine has had a storied history ranging from the first medical degree awarded west of the Mississippi River to the breakthroughs in cancer research. It continues to educate physicians and biomedical scientists, conduct medical research, and provide quality health care across the entire world.