Sorting the wheat from the chaff when it comes to web sites is always tricky, especially in fields of public interest. But for anybody seeking to learn more about Alzheimer's disease, the Alzheimer Research Forum is a good place to start. Although the site has been around for some years (indeed, the archive goes back to February 1996), it is regularly updated and contains an impressive variety of sections and links.

First, though, the visitor must identify themself — layperson, physician or researcher? After logging in the layperson is directed to an 'Alzheimer general information directory' containing basic information about the latest research, and links to Alzheimer associations and support groups around the world. As a physician or researcher, however, you are directed to a different home page.

Here you'll find the expected lists of relevant papers, some of which have links through to PubMed, and 'Abstracts in Advance' from The Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. There's also a directory listing “genes that have been studied in relation to their role in Alzheimer's disease” — again with useful links to public databases. Other features that catch the eye are the 'Forum Interviews' with well-known researchers such as Dennis Selkoe and Bruce Yankner, the various mutations directories (APP, presenilins and tau), and the 'Virtual Conferences', where you can listen to recordings of the speakers.

There are a few glitches in this otherwise excellent site. For example, many of the newest 'Papers of the Week' do not yet contain PubMed links, and the 'Milestone Papers' section needs updating (for instance, there is no mention of the recent γ-secretase studies). But overall this is an easily navigable, useful site.