Posted on 01/22/2005 12:05:15 PM PST by Middle-O-Road
Scientists have reversed the damage caused to the brain by Alzheimer's disease during tests on mice. The US team used an antibody to remove the build up of potentially damaging deposits from the area of the brain responsible for memory and cognition.
The treatment reversed the nerve cell damage in days, Washington University School of Medicine researchers said.
UK experts described the findings, published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, as "exciting".
Prior to the study, it was thought that once the damage had been caused to the brain there was no way of repairing it.
This new work is particularly interesting since it seems the nerve cells that were damaged in Alzheimer's disease were able to partly recover after the plaques cleared
Harriet Millward
Lead author Robert Brendza said: "We thought that clearing the plaques (deposits) would halt the progression of the damage.
"But what we saw was much more striking - in just three days there were 20 to 25% reductions in the number or six of the existing swellings."
He said more research was needed to see if the effects could be repeated in humans with the degenerative brain disorder for which there is no cure.
It is estimated that 2% to 5% of people over 65 years of age and up to 20% of those over 85 years of age have Alzheimer's.
The cause of the disease is not known although people with Alzheimer's do have a build up of abeta, a glycoprotein, which could be responsible for the nerve cell damage.
Mice with a build up of abeta were injected with the antibody and then using a dye to give detailed images of the nerve cell branches, the team were able to monitor the improvement over a few days.
'Interesting'
"From the details that I've seen, these could be very interesting results.
Alzheimer's Research Trust deputy chief executive Harriet Millward said: "This new work is particularly interesting since it seems the nerve cells that were damaged in Alzheimer's disease were able to partly recover after the plaques cleared."
But she added: "We are still a long way from finding an answer to Alzheimer's, but by learning more about the disease process, we will be able to accelerate progress towards ways to treat and prevent this devastating condition."
Dr Susanne Sorensen, head of research at the Alzheimer's Society, said several researchers across the world were also looking into the use of antibodies.
But she added: "The research in animal models reported here is exciting because it provides additional, important information about how abeta antibodies may reverse the signs of disease in neurons.
"However, there is still a lot to learn about what happens to the brain cells during Alzheimer's, and what these antibodies do to reverse the situation."
What??? And no babies had to die for their stem cells???
STUNING!
TC
ping
Oh my God. What a hopeful story.
Thy will be done.
Did the encephalitis kill them? How was their brain function after the encephalitis cleared? Did every-one in the study get encephalitis? Of the ones who didn't, was there any improvement in Alzheimer's symptoms?
Just curious...that's all!
"Liberalism is just as bad because it kills the living---and they continue to live with the mental disorder".
BUT WE CAN HOPE THEY HAVE AN EPIPHANY DURING OR BEFORE MIDLIFE! :)
A NEW POSTER AND A "RECOVERED" DEMOCRAT
Thanks for the post and welcome aboard!
Welcome to FR!
Either that or she's redecorating the place.
By the time I was able to move down there, she had been placed in a facility. She kept calling the cops saying there were people in her attic(actually a crawl space), and living in the garage. She turned on everyone, either from the dementia or the Alzheimers, or both. I had her moved eventually from the first facility, to a 6 person facility in a single family home a couple of miles from where we lived. It was a good move for her, but it was hard on us to see her steadily decline. After a visit, I needed a drink.
I felt bad for Nancy Reagan, especially seeing her at RR's funeral. Going through it is bad enough, without being in the public eye.
I have to disagree with your post. Some families must take care of their afflicted relatives at home, because of lack of money or insurance. Alzheimers can turn your beloved parent or grandparent into a raving, paranoid lunatic. They can become violent. After my mom had hip replacement surgery, she tried to punch out a nurse. They had to tie her to the bed. After the anasthesia was out of her system, they were able to resume her meds.
Try dealing with that at home. With children in the home. They wander off, forget who you are, and can possibly turn violent. I'm all for a vaccine, cure, or anything that can alleviate this condition.
there is.
it's called death.
.
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