Resetting Hopes for an Alzheimer’s Treatment Breakthrough

Worldwide, 47 million people have Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia, and that number is expected to double in the next 20 years. Aging is by far the biggest risk factor for developing Alzheimer’s – if everyone lived to be 85, one in two people would develop dementia. It’s the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S., and the Alzheimer’s Association estimates 5.8 million Americans are living with the disease.

Many drug companies, research institutions and the National Institute of Health have joined forces over the years to run studies that test a new drug’s ability to prevent Alzheimer’s disease. To date, the results have been overwhelmingly disappointing, but not a knockout punch to researchers.

The leading target of many studies and panels is focusing on a protein fragment in the brain known as beta amyloid. Scientists and drug makers think the beta amyloid works this way – Amyloid accumulates in the brain and then tau a tangled, spaghettilike protein appears causing neurons (i.e. nerve cells) to die.

One study showed that Alzheimer’s could be stopped if treatment began before symptoms emerged. For five years, on average, a group of volunteers received monthly infusions or injections of one of two experimental drugs, along with annual blood tests, brain scans, spinal taps and cognitive tests.

According to the study’s result: the anti-amyloid drugs did nothing to slow or stop cognitive decline in the group of volunteers.

However, researchers believe the study may have been successful if the doses of medication were increased and they had used youngers patients.

The failed study, along with the dawning realization that Alzheimer’s unfolds over decades, have put the entire field on a reset. Researchers need to develop and test interventions that can be used much earlier and discover new targets beyond the amyloid and tau proteins. In addition, they need to fund large, interdisciplinary, big data collaborations.

Dr. Richard Hodes, Director of the National Institute on Aging said, “Out of the 46 current pharmacological trials, 30 have targets other than amyloid. We are well on our way to moving toward these other potential targets.”

Even though recent experimental treatments haven’t produced any new drugs, they still have helped researchers learn more about the brain and the disease. Heather Snyder, Senior Director of Medical and Scientific Operations for the Alzheimer’s Association says, “We are absolutely committed to making sure no stone is left unturned and that all avenues are pursued.” Stay tuned!

Promoting Senior Wellness is provided by The Hickman Friends Senior Community of West Chester. A Quaker personal care home in West Chester. This column was written by Hugh Bleemer, Outreach and Admissions Counselor. www. thehickman.org