Alzheimer's Cure?

[Mac1958]

Holy crap, here's hoping:

http://rodmartin.org/happy-new-year-stanford-may-just-cured-alzheimers/#

Researchers discovered that nerve cells die because cells which are supposed to clear the brain of bacteria, viruses and dangerous deposits, stop working.

These cells, called ‘microglia’ function well when people are young, but when they age, a single protein called EP2 stops them operating efficiently.

Now scientists have shown that blocking the protein allows the microglia to function normally again so they can hoover up the dangerous sticky amyloid-beta plaques which damage nerve cells in Alzheimer’s disease.

The researchers found that, in mice, blocking EP2 with a drug reversed memory loss and myriad other Alzheimer’s-like features in the animals.
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[Skylar]

Interesting. I'm cautiously optimistic.

 

[waltky]

Granny likes to go to Capt'n D's on Sundays an get the senior special...

Less Alzheimer’s Seen in Elderly Who Consumed Fish
February 03, 2016 - Eating seafood has a number of well-known health benefits. The vitamins and minerals in fish protect against heart disease and stroke and are good for brain development.

Now, a new study shows that consuming fish at least once per week, even seafood that contains mercury, lowers the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease in some people. Fish is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids that have been linked to good health. Several studies suggest fish consumption wards off dementia. Fish, however, also contains high levels of mercury, a neurotoxin, which researchers have feared could lead to dementia.

Brain samples

Investigators at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago analyzed the brain samples of 286 deceased volunteers for mercury, finding those who ate a lot of fish had the highest levels of the metal in their bodies. The study, however, also found that fish consumption, at least once per week, seemed to protect some of the elderly participants from Alzheimer’s. They found higher levels of mercury do not lead to mental decline, as measured by protein deposits in brain tissue.

Salmon sushi.​

Cindy Lawler, chief at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, says the apparent beneficial effects of seafood are good news. “Even late in life, moderate fish consumption can have real benefits," she said. "That stood out to me as a hopeful message.” Rush researchers found fewer brain changes associated with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia among volunteers who regularly ate fish.

Elderly participants

 

[AvgGuyIA]

Be careful of the research animals they use. We don't want the apes taking over.

 

[WillMunny]

I can't vouch for the veracity of this, but I remember seeing a documentary some years ago that theorized Alzheimer's can be caused by a life-long vitamin E deficiency. According to the doc., vitamin E provides extra insulation on brain synapses to prevent degradation. And people who take vitamin E have a lower rate of Alzheimer's than people who don't, according to them.

Like I said, I don't know how true this is, but it is interesting food for thought. I take vitamin E anyway on general principles, because it's an anti-oxidant and I can't allow myself to oxidize - that would be a tragedy for all involved, lol.

 

[jwoodie]

Too late for many on this forum...

 

[bodecea]

Holy crap, here's hoping:

Happy New Year! Stanford May Have Just Cured Alzheimer's

Researchers discovered that nerve cells die because cells which are supposed to clear the brain of bacteria, viruses and dangerous deposits, stop working.

These cells, called ‘microglia’ function well when people are young, but when they age, a single protein called EP2 stops them operating efficiently.

Now scientists have shown that blocking the protein allows the microglia to function normally again so they can hoover up the dangerous sticky amyloid-beta plaques which damage nerve cells in Alzheimer’s disease.

The researchers found that, in mice, blocking EP2 with a drug reversed memory loss and myriad other Alzheimer’s-like features in the animals.
.

Both my parents have it...as did my grandpa. I hope there's something for us.

 

[Mac1958]

Holy crap, here's hoping:

Happy New Year! Stanford May Have Just Cured Alzheimer's

Researchers discovered that nerve cells die because cells which are supposed to clear the brain of bacteria, viruses and dangerous deposits, stop working.

These cells, called ‘microglia’ function well when people are young, but when they age, a single protein called EP2 stops them operating efficiently.

Now scientists have shown that blocking the protein allows the microglia to function normally again so they can hoover up the dangerous sticky amyloid-beta plaques which damage nerve cells in Alzheimer’s disease.

The researchers found that, in mice, blocking EP2 with a drug reversed memory loss and myriad other Alzheimer’s-like features in the animals.
.

Both my parents have it...as did my grandpa. I hope there's something for us.

Horrible fucking disease, worst on the families. Best wishes, I know it's hard.
.

 

[waltky]

Anti-inflammatory drug reverses Alzheimer's memory damage...

Pill for Menstrual Pain Restores Memory in Mice with Alzheimer's
August 15, 2016 - A surprising discovery has been made in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

An anti-inflammatory drug used to treat menstrual pain completely reversed memory symptoms in mice with Alzheimer's. The drug, called mefenamic acid, is a so-called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, or NSAID, used to relieve menstrual cramps. In experiments with mice specially bred to have Alzheimer's symptoms, the rodents predictably developed memory problems over time. Ten of the Alzheimer's mice were treated for one month with mefenamic acid that was contained in tiny pumps implanted under their skin. Ten other mice with memory difficulties were injected with pumps of a placebo, or inactive substance. The rodents were placed in maze to train them to get around the obstacles.

A researcher holds a human brain in a laboratory in Chicago, July 29, 2013. Brain-imaging shows a lot of harmful inflammation in the brains of Alzheimer's patients.​

In a Skype interview, Mike Daniels, who participated in the research at the University of Manchester in Britain, said, "We tried to train the mice once they had Alzheimer's disease. The Alzheimer's mice are untrainable. They cannot learn that maze." But the results in the treated mice were stunning. "What was just amazing is that this drug seemed to render the mice completely normal,” Daniels said. “It's something we haven't really seen before, but there needs to be a lot more work done to really confirm whether this is real.”

Targeting inflammation

The findings were published in the journal Nature Communications. The research was led by David Brough of the University of Manchester. Daniels said brain-imaging shows a lot of harmful inflammation in the brains of Alzheimer's patients. Researchers believe mefenamic acid targets an inflammatory pathway called NLRP3, reducing inflammation. Scientist found that no other NSAIDS — including ibuprofen, which is commonly taken for pain — reduced the brain inflammation. Whether it would work in patients at all stages of Alzheimer's — from people with mild cognitive impairment to those who are severely affected — is difficult to say, according to the study authors. "Much more work needs to be done until we can say with certainty that it will tackle the disease in humans as mouse models don’t always faithfully replicate the human disease," Brough said.

Co-author Jack Rivers-Auty said, "Maybe, if this was translated into the clinic, we would definitely want to put it into people at the early stages of the disease to try to slow the progress or stop the progress of the disease," Rivers-Auty said. "Rather than taking the ambitious aim of taking someone who fully has Alzheimer's disease, has all the symptoms — incredible memory loss, incredible cognitive impairment — and trying to reverse those symptoms. That might be very difficult," he added. Mefenamic acid already has been approved by regulators so, after further testing, it could reach the market relatively quickly as a treatment for Alzheimer's disease.

Pill for Menstrual Pain Restores Memory in Mice with Alzheimer's

 

[waltky]

Will also affect Parkinson's research...

Pharma giant Pfizer pulls out of research into Alzheimer's
10 January 2018 - Drug company Pfizer has announced it is pulling out of research into drugs to treat Alzheimer's disease.

The US-based pharmaceutical giant said it would be ending its neuroscience discovery programmes following a review, and 300 jobs would be lost. The Alzheimer's Society called the news "disappointing" and a "heavy blow" to those living with dementia. Companies should be encouraged to invest in research into neuroscience, Alzheimer's Research UK said. The move means Pfizer will also stop looking for treatments for Parkinson's disease, but the company said it planned to create a new fund dedicated to neuroscience research in the future. A statement from the company said: "We have made the decision to end our neuroscience discovery and early development efforts and re-allocate funding to those areas where we have strong scientific leadership and that will allow us to provide the greatest impact for patients."

Complex brain

Prof Tara Spire-Jones, a neuroscientist at Edinburgh University, told the Today programme on BBC Radio 4 that despite the decision, there was still a lot of hope. "Not all pharmaceutical companies are pulling out and there are over 100 clinical trials at the moment. "There is a lot going on in the basic science - we need to understand the complexity of the brain." She said Pfizer's decision was understandable because of the failure rate of clinical trials. "More than 99% of trials for Alzheimer's drugs have failed in past 15 years. "So companies are justifiably cautious, but we are making great advances on the scientific front."

Pfizer's decision will affect research into drugs for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease​

Prof Spire-Jones added: "We've learned from these failures of trials that we need to take a step back and understand brain changes. "At the moment we don't fully understand how memory and thinking work fully in a healthy brain." Pharmaceutical companies including Novartis, Janssen, Biogen, Abbvie and Eli Lilly are still developing medicines to treat Alzheimer's disease and a spokesman for the ABPI (Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry) said they continued "to make progress in unravelling the complexities of the brain and identifying the underpinnings of the disease".

Dr James Pickett, head of research at Alzheimer's Society, said: "Of course it's disappointing to hear that Pfizer, one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies, will be terminating their research efforts in neuroscience, including Alzheimer's disease drug discovery. "The brain is the most complex organ in the body and developing drugs to treat brain diseases is a tremendous challenge, but with no new drug for dementia in the last 15 years, this will come as a heavy blow to the estimated 46.8 million people currently living with the condition across the globe."

Long-term commitment

The Alzheimer's Society said it had committed £50m to fund new research at the UK Dementia Research Institute alongside Alzheimer's Research UK and the Medical Research Council. Dr Matthew Norton, director of policy at Alzheimer's Research UK, said: "We hope that pharmaceutical companies will look at the long-term potential when deciding whether to participate in this effort. "It is vital that all of us - charities, government and industry alike - make long-term commitments to dementia research if we are to bring an end to the fear, harm and heartbreak of dementia." Currently, about 850,000 people in the UK have a form of dementia. One million people are predicted to be living with the condition by 2021, and this could rise to two million by 2051.

Pharma giant ending Alzheimer's research