05:11 PM MST on Monday, August 8, 2005

Associated Press

TUCSON, Ariz. — The daughter of a couple who raised millions of dollars to fund research on Niemann-Pick disease has died.

Sixteen-year-old Marcia Parseghian -- granddaughter of the famed Notre Dame football coach -- died early Saturday in Tucson.

She was the longest surviving of three siblings diagnosed with the rare and fatal genetic disease.

Her parents learned in 1994 that three of their four children had the disease that resembles Alzheimer's. Within weeks, they established a foundation that has raised $22 million for research.

Niemann-Pick Type C stems from an inability to metabolize cholesterol. Researchers hope work they've done on the disease can also help those at risk for cardiovascular disease, heart attack and stroke.

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

APNP 08-07-05 1135MDT