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CJ Cregg
Commodore
Joined: 05 Oct 2002
Posts: 1254
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 Sat Jan 22, 2005 8:47 am Alzheimer brain damage 'reversed' |
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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.
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." |
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Founder
Dominion Leader
Joined: 21 Jun 2004
Posts: 12755
Location: Gamma Quadrant
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| Sun Jan 23, 2005 4:00 am |
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Sounds interesting.
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MJ
Lieutenant Commander
Joined: 17 Jan 2005
Posts: 266
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| Sun Jan 23, 2005 6:53 am |
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Awesome, it's always neat when they can cure a dicease. 
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Link, the Hero of Time
Vice Admiral
Joined: 15 Sep 2001
Posts: 5581
Location: Kokori Forest, Hyrule
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| Sun Jan 23, 2005 11:21 am |
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wow. I love the advances in medical technology and Techniques today. Soon we'll be able to cure even the slightest thing.
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Starbuck
faster...
Joined: 19 Feb 2003
Posts: 8715
Location: between chaos and melody
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| Sun Jan 23, 2005 12:35 pm |
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my grandma has alzheimers.....
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Angeldust
The Mob Queen
Joined: 28 Jul 2004
Posts: 6498
Location: In your most wonderful, screwed up dreams. :P
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| Sun Jan 23, 2005 12:59 pm |
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That is very exciting. I hope they are successful.
-------signature-------
"You want to dance with the angels? Then embroider me with gold; and I will fly with the angels...and you can dance with me."
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Leo Wyatt
Sweetest Angel
Joined: 25 Feb 2004
Posts: 19045
Location: Investigating A Crime Scene. What did Quark do this time?
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| Sun Jan 23, 2005 1:16 pm |
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I hope they find a cure cause my mom is loosing her mind 
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