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New Discoveries May Help in Fight Against Alzheimer's Disease By Connie Limon |
| Saturday, March 7, 2009 |
A possible physical origin of Alzheimer's disease has been found recently by scientists at UCLA. The new discovery means that there may be new ways to treat the cause of the disorder and not just the symptoms.
It is estimated that Alzheimer's disease affects 24 million people worldwide. Half of those over 85 may suffer from it. Symptoms of the disease are a decrease in a person's memory and ability to think and function independently. The disorder is fatal. Drugs only treat symptoms and not the underlying cause of Alzheimer's disease.
Scientists at UCLA are headed by David Teplow, professor of Neurology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. They have identified a loop in the A-beta protein that is likely responsible for the accession process of A-beta protein. When A-beta proteins stick together form toxic deposits in the brain that can form different solid structures called amyloid plaques. Recent studies suggest these plaques have potent neurotoxic activities that can kill brain cells.
Understanding how groups toxic A-beta in the brain could help scientists develop new drugs that block the production of A-beta and to avoid clustering. The drug could be used to prevent or treat Alzheimer's disease.
Pain Cold virus link with Alzheimer's disease
There is also evidence of continued cold sore virus is associated with Alzheimer's disease. Manchester University found brains in laboratory tests infected with herpes simplex virus HSV-1 had an increase of a protein linked to Alzheimer's disease.
The progress of this discovery with a vaccine to help prevent the disorder of the brain is possible, but probably much free time.
When the researchers infected cultures of human brain cells with the virus, they found an astounding increase in the levels of amyloid beta protein. Beta amyloid protein is the building blocks of deposits, or plaques that form in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease. The researchers saw a similar increase in the brains of mice infected with HSV-1. Even in an experiment, the researchers stained brain slices taken from dead Alzheimer's patients. They found DNA from HSV-1 is attached to the plates.
Previous research has established HSV-1 was found in the brains of up to 70% of people with Alzheimer's disease. A team from the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York, discovered that it was more likely to cause problems in people who carry a mutant version of a gene called ApoE4.
Dr. Ruth Itzhaki is the principal investigator. She thinks that Alzheimer's disease is a multi-factorial disease have many different causes. Scientists have yet to establish a direct relationship between the virus and disease, however, the team is Manchester which found that offer hope for the future.
Scientists hope a vaccine to combat the virus that could help protect people against Alzheimer's disease. There is still much to do more work and research as many people are skeptical of a viral link to Alzheimer's disease. The research director of the Society Alzheimer's says a link between the virus and Alzheimer's disease was first suggested ten years ago.
More research is needed before scientists can determine the significance of the relationship between the virus and Alzheimer's disease is actually regarding the treatment of people with the disease.
Source: American Academy of Anti-Aging
Disclaimer: Statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The information in this article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. All health concerns should be addressed by a qualified health professional.
This article is FREE to publish with resource box.
© 2007 Connie Limon All Rights Reserved
Author: Connie Limon Visit http://smalldogs2.com/NutritionHealthHub and recorded in one week nutrition and health tip. The article collection is available as FREE reprints for your newsletters, websites or blog. For a variety of FREE reprint articles on various topics rarely seen elsewhere visit http://www.camelotarticles.com |
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