Hope For Alzheimer's!
Alzheimer's disease is the 6th leading cause of death in the US. More than 5 million people in the United States have the disease, and that number is projected to triple by 2050.
More than 1,000 people are diagnosed with Alzheimer's every day!
Sadly, research into the disease has not made much progress in the past third of a century.
Researchers recently discovered an extended family in a lush countryside region of Colombia, South America called Medellin, in the Antioquia Region, who has a genetic mutation that causes Alzheimer's Disease.
These family members are 100% certain to develop a devastating version of Alzheimer's Disease, which strikes people in their mid-40's, and kills them about 10 years after onset of the disease. It is easily identifiable with a simple genetic test.
This area of Colombia is currently known to have the largest concentration of early onset Alzheimer's cases in the entire world.
There is now a multimillion dollar, NIH-backed study, using this unique population of people to study whether Alzheimer's may be preventable.
They are doing research on these people they know are going to get Alzheimer's, to see if the disease can be prevented, by providing drugs to remove amyloid plaque from the brain
Members of the family with the mutated gene have shown extensive amyloid deposits in their brains. It has been demonstrated that the amyloid plaques build up more than a decade before memory loss begins!
The research team began using an immunotherapy drug to remove the plaque in the brains of those with the mutated gene, but who are healthy, with no memory loss yet.
They are using a double-blind study, so neither patients nor investigators know who is getting the drug and who is getting the placebo. This will be a 5-year study. Results are expected in 2021.
If the drug works for these people, say investigators, it may well work for all people with Alzheimer's!
Eventually, the goal is for people to get screened for the disease, just like checking your cholesterol, and routine prevention started to prevent its onset.
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Am A nurse working specifically with Alzheimers residents in an assisted living. I have been in this specialty for 8 years. I greatly appreciate your post. I plan on creating a blog to help families and caregivers of Alzheimers/dementia populations. I am very passionate about by job and I hope to help in a small way. That you for sharing!
I got confused with this disease because I associate in with the elderly. Now it's just not that simple as being aged but even the young ones.
I hope that the double-blind study will not victimize the specimens, there should be a body that monitors the group staging the study.
I can almost guarantee there is a monitor.
My mum was in her mid 40s when she got her form of dementia.
My father-in-law had Alzheimer's and lasted a mere 5 years after his initial diagnosis. We were given a small booklet to read called "The Long Road Home," a title that is most appropriate to say the least. The saving grace, I believe, was that he was able to stay in his own home until the day he passed, all the while convinced that he was in the home of his youth and neighborhood he grew up in. Thanks for posting this Rick.
I joined WA with great enthusiasm and an energetic commitment. Unfortunately, within days of my joining you my Bride was diagnosed with an aggressive form of this awful disease, and I have been prevented from pursuing that ambition.
My life has been altered so that I can be a full time caregiver for her. She is already entering Stage 6 of Alzheimer's cruel disease. She is physically the same woman that I delight in sharing my life with, but her identity has been sucked out of her.
I am watching the study you described, but realize that whatever it provides will not be of any benefit to us. This is a cruel disease and I know that any person that encounters it in someone that is important to them will not ever be the same.
Thanks for sharing!
Yes they do not know the cause, but we should all endeavour to eat healthily. Whole foods have been bastardised so much,that devoid them of nutritional value. Most honey sold at Supermarkets for instance are pasteurised, killing them of the disease fighting natural ingredients, and I understand they now put antibiotics as replacement. Indeed the greed of commercialisation knows no bound. It becomes imperative that each one of us should take responsibility for what we eat, and eat wholesome food as much as possible, even planting your vegetables for tor the family in your garden, free of pesticides and other rubbish by the so called commercial farmers. The love of money is indeed the root of all evil.
You're right, Lanu-we definitely need to eat more healthy and take responsibility for our own well-being! :)
I lost my dad to this dreadful disease, and therefore, I could have it in my genes, I take precautions. There are several foods and supplements who claim to be very helpful, and I use them daily.
Coconut oil, garlic, bee propolis, ginseng, green tea, tomato and vitamin C, a multivitamin and I have here next to me a jar nuts with cranberries to take a handful a couple of times a day.
Besides that, I often listen to instrumental music, that seems to have a propitious effect on the connections in the brain.
Loes I did a Diploma Course on it, and its not known to be hereditary. Good that you are already taking care of your health by eating well. You are on the right track.
It's an awful and frightening disease, Loes, and you're definitely on the right track for prevention. I think keeping our minds active, learning new things doesn't hurt, either! :)
Cosmic has it right here, Loes. Anything that keeps the brain active. I do crosswords, solitaire, I write and I solve problems. Like you Loes several people on mum's side have died from this so I hope the hereditary thing is false.
And watch your diet Helen, my father was headmaster of the elementary school and kept busy until he didn't remember how to keep busy
This is great news Rick. Although Alzheimer's does not run in my family gene's. That is not to say I couldn't get it. I'm happy for this finding for all who are destined for it.
I recently have read where they found a cure for Diabetes in mice and are about to go forward with it in humans. This does run in my family and is scary for me too. Let's hope for that one as well.
Soon they will be able to cure all the diseases. It just takes lots of time and research.
If this does work it would be wonderful. Yes the problem causes a huge expense in caring for those with it but the worst problem is the terrible blow to self esteem of the people who get it.
I am talking from experience as my mum had a form of dementia called Pict's Disease. She always said she wanted to die with dignity but she lingered for 7 years all up. And was basically a vegetable in her last two years.
And the medical profession allows this, people dying in ignominious condition. What quality of life is this!
What a shocking disease Alzheimer's is.
I once knew a very intelligent woman who was a Theater Nurse in one of the biggest hospitals in New Zealand. This woman developed Alzheimer's disease in her early forties. The onset was rapid and it wasn't long before she didn't recognize those she had known.
Here's hoping the goal for screening is reached in the very near future.
Thanks for the post Rick. I don't get around to responding to all posts that I would like to. It's not a disease I'm suffering from, just a lack of good Time Management!
I hear you on the time management issues, Val. My brother-in-law got Alzheimer's when he was in his late 50's. It was hard on him and on my sister.
Sorry to learn about your brother-in-law Rick. 50's is far too young to be stricken with irreversible health issues. I can imagine how hard it was for him, and your sister in particular.
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It is such a horrible thing to see people suffering from. One woman I worked beside and was a beautiful person retreated back the way and went like a child again, it was so so sad to see her like this. Another person I know went the other way and became aggressive with his wife and sadly has had to go into full time care.
Here's hoping though that this drug will be a breakthrough in a cure or even something to delay the early onset. xx
I hope so, Cheryl. :)
So do I Rick. Xx