Research into Alzheimer's disease is moving at a rapid pace. Soon, newer treatments
or even a cure may be in sight.
Currently, one in 13 people over the age of 65 is affected by Alzheimer's
disease. This condition causes brain damage and dementia. Scientists have
long suspected that a substance known as amyloid plaques, which collect
and surround brain cells, may be the cause of this brain damage.
Amyloid plaques are made by amyloid protein. Although the protein is
necessary for our immune systems - and produces scattered amyloid
plaques in healthy people - scientists now know that the brains of
people with Alzheimer's are littered with amyloid plaques. Consequently, one
of the key areas of Alzheimer's research is focused on preventing the creation
of these plaques by targeting the amyloid protein. Two of the most promising
preventive therapies currently in development are enzyme inhibitors and amyloid
vaccines.
Enzyme inhibitors are like miniature seek and destroy missiles - except
they don't destroy molecules, they prevent them from working. The enzyme inhibitor
being developed for Alzheimer's would be capable of targeting and effectively
neutralizing the enzyme that plays a significant role in plaque production.
Scientists are working on this right now.
Amyloid vaccination is another hot area of research. The vaccine contains
the amyloid gene, which is used to inoculate and protect against the further
development of amyloid protein within the brain. The original amyloid vaccines
contained amyloid protein. Although they showed promising results in mice, they
caused some severe side effects in humans. In some cases, the protein vaccines
caused people's immune systems to become overactive, leading to symptoms such
as brain swelling. Now, scientists need a way to immunize people without causing
these side effects. The amyloid gene vaccine is one potential solution to this
problem. Studies show that the gene vaccine helps mice produce antibodies to
amyloid protein. These antibodies help protect against the development of amyloid
protein. The next step will be to test the amyloid gene vaccine in humans.
Perhaps one of the most exciting pieces of research to date is the discovery
of an increase in a substance called microglia in the brains of people
with Alzheimer's. Data from a recently completed study, headed by Dr. Juan Troncoso
of Johns Hopkins, also found an increase of microglia in people with early signs
of Alzheimer's who were still functioning.
"One of the more important implications of this research is the possibility
of monitoring the build-up of microglia, which would enable us to tell who's
at high risk for Alzheimer's," Dr. Troncoso said. Additionally, this research
may help scientists determine how and when to treat. Researchers are also looking
into using amyloid gene vaccines in combination with drugs to decrease the levels
of microglia.
As the body of research into Alzheimer's grows, it will produce a variety
of treatment options. According to Dr. Troncoso, "In the not too distant
future there will be several ways of treating Alzheimer's disease. Like high
blood pressure, we may use one drug or mode of therapy - or a combined
approach to treat Alzheimer's."