"Alzheimers Cure... Is There An Answer?"
In 1906, Dr. Alois Alzheimer discovered disease, after observing the neuropathological anatomy of a 55-year old woman's brain, that we refer to as Alzheimer's disease. Since then, the disease has been a constant focus of various studies in both psychiatry and neuropathology. Yet now roughly a hundred years later, scientists still have not found the cause and cure of this brain disorder. Furthermore, there is no real treatment available.
Scientists involved in Alzheimer's research have been studying the dissected brains of deceased patients in the hopes of finding out the cause of the disease. They made some observations, the most important of which was the existence of two kinds of obviously abnormal structures in the brains of patients.
One is an abnormal build up of plaques located in the spaces between the afflicted brain's nerve cells. These plaques are made of protein fragment called beta amyloid. The other is a tangles, which are abnormal collections found inside neurons and made of twisted protein threads called tau.
Further research showed that the beta amyloids are significant to the development of Alzheimer's and that finding a cure would mean a closer look at this plaque formation. So what is medical science doing with this research? And how far are we from the time the concept of Alzheimer's disease was first introduced to us by Dr. Alois Alzheimer? Some research has been done into nutritional and complementary medicine as a possible step toward an Alzheimer's cure. The antioxidant Vitamins C and E, as well as the Omega 3 fats present in fish oils, have been shown to improve cognitive functions and to slow the progression of the disease. It has been suggested that antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E, may reduce the risk of developing dementia. Interestingly, the protective effect of these vitamins was enhanced when they were acquired through food, rather then through supplements. Adequate intake of vitamin B and folate can help reduce homocysteine levels, and this may reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. In addition, research is being done regarding the usefulness of the herb gingko biloba in treating, preventing, or curing disease. Also the extract, known as GETO (for ginseng, epimedium herb, thinleaf milkwort root and two other herbs), has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine. Other promising areas of research towards an Alzheimer's cure lies with cholesterol lowering drugs. They may lower the risk of developing illness. Cholesterol lowering medicines known as statins, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen or aspirin, ginkgo biloba, and Eldepryl - a monoamine oxidase inhibitor - can also help a great deal. It was not until 2005 that a new form of Alzheimer's cure was discovered by Howard Weiner and his colleagues in a study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. The cure is actually a nasal spray designed also to target the beta amyloid formation in the brain. Alzheimer nasal spray cure is not really a cure, in the sense that it would not put an effective halt to the disease, but it does help stop disease from further progression. Said study is set to be tested on humans in 2006.
Preventing Alzheimers
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