<h2>Brain Bath</h2>
<p>Roughly 25 years ago, the hunt for a cause of Alzheimer&#8217;s disease led researchers to the <a href="https://www.alzdiscovery.org/cognitive-vitality/blog/what-apoe-means-for-your-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener">gene APOE</a>. This gene comes in three common variants, and the version a person has appears to increase or decrease their risk of developing Alzheimer&#8217;s.</p>
<p>Soon, researchers will launch a <a href="https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03634007" target="_blank" rel="noopener">clinical trial</a> in which they&#8217;ll attempt to &#8220;<a href="https://www.technologyreview.com/s/613001/doctors-plan-to-test-a-gene-therapy-that-could-prevent-alzheimers-disease/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bathe</a>&#8221; the brains of people with the increased-risk version of the gene (APOE4) with viruses carrying the lowered-risk version (APOE2) — and it could lead to a gene therapy for one of the world&#8217;s most devastating diseases.</p>
<h2>Mom (and Dad) Genes</h2>
<p>Every person has two copies of the APOE gene, one from their mother and one from their father. That means some people have one APOE2 gene and one APOE4 gene, and those people tend to have an average risk of developing the disease, leading researchers to conclude that APOE2 might somehow offset the effects of APOE4.</p>
<p>To test the theory, a team of New York researchers are launching a trial in which they&#8217;ll inject viruses containing the APOE2 gene into the spinal cords of people with two copies of APOE4 who&#8217;ve already begun exhibiting Alzheimer&#8217;s symptoms.</p>
<p>After the treatment, they plan to draw spinal fluid from the patients to see if it contains a mix of the two genes, which they&#8217;ll take as a sign that the <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/holy-herb-promise-alzheimers-treatment" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Alzheimer&#8217;s treatment</a> is working as hoped.</p>
<p>“[T]he strategy is, can we bathe the brain in E2?&#8221; researcher Ronald Crystal from Weill Cornell Medicine <a href="https://www.technologyreview.com/s/613001/doctors-plan-to-test-a-gene-therapy-that-could-prevent-alzheimers-disease/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told the <em>MIT Technology Review</em></a>. &#8220;We have the infrastructure to do it, so we thought, why not?&#8221;</p>
<h2>One Shot</h2>
<p>The researchers have already tested the treatment on monkeys and mice, with promising results. If it works in humans as well, people with APOE4 might one day be able to see their doctor for a one-time injection of APOE2 as a preventative Alzheimer&#8217;s treatment.</p>
<p>Genetic counsellor Susan Hahn told <em>MIT Tech Review</em> she doesn&#8217;t recommend people get tested to see which version of APOE they have, since right now it really doesn&#8217;t do any good — but this new trial could change that.</p>
<p>“You have to be prepared for what you are going to hear, because it’s permanent,&#8221; Hahn said. &#8220;You can’t change your genes — although maybe with this study you can.&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>READ MORE:</strong> <a href="https://www.technologyreview.com/s/613001/doctors-plan-to-test-a-gene-therapy-that-could-prevent-alzheimers-disease/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Doctors Plan to Test a Gene Therapy That Could Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease</a> [<em>MIT Technology Review</em>]</p>
<p><em><strong>More on Alzheimer&#8217;s: <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/holy-herb-promise-alzheimers-treatment" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;Holy Herb&#8221; Shows Promise as Alzheimer’s Treatment</a></strong></em></p>


A one-time gene injection might be enough to slow the disease.

Alzheimer’s trial will "bathe" patients’ brains in helpful genes

Gene Scene

For an upcoming trial, researchers will inject people genetically predisposed to develop Alzheimer's with genes linked to a lowered risk.

Alzheimer’s Trial Will “Bathe” Patients’ Brains in Helpful Genes

"You can’t change your genes — although maybe with this study you can."

<h2>Old Medicine</h2>
<p>The name native California tribes gave to the plant Eriodictyon californicum — &#8220;Yerba santa&#8221; — translates to &#8220;holy herb&#8221; in English, and the moniker is a testament to the tribes&#8217; respect for the plant, which they used to treat everything from headaches to sore muscles.</p>
<p>Now, in a heartening old-meets-new finding, scientists think they may have discovered yet another ailment <a href="https://www.salk.edu/news-release/native-california-medicinal-plant-may-hold-promise-for-treating-alzheimers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yerba santa</a> has the potential to treat: Alzheimer&#8217;s disease.</p>
<h2>Brain Protector</h2>
<p>In a <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213231718311996?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noopener">study</a> published in the journal <em>Redox Biology </em>on Wednesday, researchers from the Salk Institute detail their discovery that Yerba santa could be useful for treating Alzheimer&#8217;s.</p>
<p>They started by screening 400 plant extracts known to have pharmacological properties for signs of anti-inflammatory or neuroprotective properties. This led them to the Yerba santa compound sterubin.</p>
<p>The researchers found through additional testing that &#8220;the compound was effective against multiple inducers of cell death in the nerve cells,&#8221; according to a <a href="https://www.salk.edu/news-release/native-california-medicinal-plant-may-hold-promise-for-treating-alzheimers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">press release</a>.</p>
<p>It had an anti-inflammatory impact on certain brain cells, and it was also effective at removing iron, which is known to add to the damage of nerve cells in people with neurodegenerative diseases.</p>
<h2>Dramatic Drug</h2>
<p>The researchers now plan to test sterubin in animal models of Alzheimer’s disease. After that, they&#8217;ll set out to determine the compound&#8217;s toxicity levels in animals and other characteristics.</p>
<p>Human testing could follow, but as researcher Pamela Maher pointed out in a press release, the team would likely created a synthetic derivative of sterubin rather than use sterubin drawn from a plant.</p>
<p>Ultimately, this wouldn&#8217;t be the first medicine with its roots in nature — aspirin and morphine are two well-known examples — but given the <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/alzheimers-disease-rates" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ever-growing number of people</a> suffering and dying from Alzheimer&#8217;s, the &#8220;holy herb&#8221; has the potential to be one that has an immediate and dramatic impact.</p>
<p><strong>READ MORE:</strong> <a href="https://www.salk.edu/news-release/native-california-medicinal-plant-may-hold-promise-for-treating-alzheimers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Native California Medicinal Plant May Hold Promise for Treating Alzheimer&#8217;s</a> [Salk Institute]</p>
<p><em><strong>More on Alzheimer&#8217;s: <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/alzheimers-disease-rates" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Americans Are Living Longer. That Will Mean More People With Alzheimer’s.</a></strong></em></p>


Native tribes used it to treat everything from sore muscles to headaches.

“Holy herb” shows promise as Alzheimer’s treatment

Plant Power

Yerba santa, a plant dubbed the "holy herb" by native California tribes, could have a previously unknown medical use as an Alzheimer's treatment.

“Holy Herb” Shows Promise as Alzheimer’s Treatment

A plant native to California could help in the battle against Alzheimer's.

<h2>Neuron Time</h2>
<p>Neurons receive, process, and transmit all the impulses in our brains. Essentially, they&#8217;re the building blocks of the human nervous system, and once they&#8217;re damaged by Alzheimer&#8217;s disease or some other brain injury, they&#8217;re done for — they have no regenerative abilities.</p>
<p>In contrast, the glial cells that support and insulate neurons <em>do</em> have regenerative abilities, and now, researchers from Penn State <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/02/190207173226.htm">think they&#8217;ve found</a> an efficient way to actually transform glial cells into neurons — a discovery that could lead to a pill to repair brain damage.</p>
<h2>Molecular Report</h2>
<p>Based on a <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4675726/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">previous study</a>, the Penn team knew it was possible to convert human glial cells into neurons using a sequence of nine tiny molecules. However, the large number of molecules and specific sequence made transitioning the research from the lab to something that could work in a clinical environment difficult.</p>
<p>In a <a href="https://www.cell.com/stem-cell-reports/fulltext/S2213-6711(19)30004-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">study</a> published in the journal <em>Stem Cell Reports</em> on Thursday, the Penn team describes how it found a way to streamline the process of creating neurons out of a type of glial cells called astrocytes with remarkable success.</p>
<p>&#8220;We identified the most efficient chemical formula among the hundreds of drug combinations that we tested,&#8221; researcher Jiu-Chao Yin said in a <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/02/190207173226.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">press release</a>. &#8220;By using four molecules that modulate four critical signaling pathways in human astrocytes, we can efficiently turn human astrocytes — as many as 70 percent — into functional neurons.&#8221;</p>
<h2>Dream Delivery</h2>
<p>The Penn team acknowledged in the press release that it still has a long road ahead before its latest research will be able to help people with brain damage, but it&#8217;s extremely optimistic about the future.</p>
<p>&#8220;The most significant advantage of the new approach is that a pill containing small molecules could be distributed widely in the world, even reaching rural areas without advanced hospital systems,&#8221; research leader Gong Chen said.</p>
<p>&#8220;My ultimate dream is to develop a simple drug delivery system, like a pill, that can help stroke and <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/reverse-memory-loss-alzheimers-patients" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Alzheimer&#8217;s patients</a> around the world to regenerate new neurons and restore their lost learning and memory capabilities,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;Our years of effort in discovering this simplified drug formula take us one step closer to reaching our dream.&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>READ MORE:</strong> <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/02/190207173226.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Simple Drug Combination Creates New Neurons From Neighboring Cells</a> [<em>Science Daily</em>]</p>
<p><strong><em>More on Alzheimer&#8217;s: <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/reverse-memory-loss-alzheimers-patients" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New Research Could Reverse Memory Loss in Alzheimer’s Patients</a></em></strong></p>


Four tiny molecules could shape the future of Alzheimer's treatments.

New drug combo could repair the brains of Alzheimer’s patients

New Neurons

A combination of molecules could making repairing the brain damage caused by Alzheimer's disease and other brain injuries as easy as swallowing a pill.

New Drug Combo Could Repair the Brains of Alzheimer’s Patients

Repairing brain damage could one day be as simple as taking a pill.

<h2>Epigenetic Factors</h2>
<p>Your DNA sequence never changes. But the <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080624174849.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">expression of your genes changes</a> throughout your life, and the elements affecting these changes are known as <a href="https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/primer/howgeneswork/epigenome" target="_blank" rel="noopener">epigenetic factors</a>.</p>
<p>Now, scientists believe they have <a href="http://www.buffalo.edu/news/releases/2019/01/013.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">identified an epigenetic factor</a> that causes <a href="https://futurism.com/alzheimers-drug-memory-loss" target="_blank" rel="noopener">memory loss</a> in people with Alzheimer&#8217;s disease.</p>
<p>Their other claim is explosive: that they&#8217;ve found a way to reverse memory loss in an animal model of Alzheimer&#8217;s — and they think it might lead to a treatment for humans.</p>
<h2>Express Yourself</h2>
<p>For <a href="https://academic.oup.com/brain/advance-article/doi/10.1093/brain/awy354/5298257" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the study</a>, which was published on Tuesday in the journal <em>Brain</em>, a research team led by scientists from the University at Buffalo looked at animal models of Alzheimer&#8217;s as well as post-mortem brain tissues from patients with the disease.</p>
<p>From that data, they figured out that an epigenetic process called <a href="https://www.abcam.com/epigenetics/histone-modifications-a-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener">repressive histone modification</a> played a role in memory loss in Alzheimer&#8217;s patients.</p>
<p>&#8220;This AD-linked abnormal histone modification is what represses gene expression, diminishing glutamate receptors, which leads to loss of synaptic function and memory deficits,&#8221; researcher Zhen Yan said in a <a href="http://www.buffalo.edu/news/releases/2019/01/013.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">press release</a>.</p>
<h2>Memory Restoration</h2>
<p>Once they identified the role of repressive histone modification, the researchers set out to reverse memory loss caused by the process. They injected their animal models of Alzheimer&#8217;s three times with compounds designed to inhibit the enzyme causing the modification.</p>
<p>&#8220;When we gave the AD animals this enzyme inhibitor, we saw the rescue of cognitive function confirmed through evaluations of recognition memory, spatial memory, and working memory,&#8221; Yan said. &#8220;We were quite surprised to see such dramatic cognitive improvement. At the same time, we saw the recovery of glutamate receptor expression and function in the frontal cortex.&#8221;</p>
<p>While the results lasted just one week, the team is hopeful it&#8217;ll be able to develop a compound that is longer-lasting. If they can, the treatment could eventually move on to human trials, potentially helping overcome one of the most devastating symptoms of Alzheimer&#8217;s disease.</p>
<p><strong>READ MORE:</strong> <a href="http://www.buffalo.edu/news/releases/2019/01/013.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Alzheimer’s Disease: It May Be Possible to Restore Memory Function, Preclinical Study Finds</a> [University at Buffalo]</p>
<p><strong><em>More on Alzheimer&#8217;s: <a href="https://futurism.com/alzheimers-drug-memory-loss" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New Drug Trial Could Halt Alzheimer’s Memory Loss</a></em></strong></p>


"We were quite surprised to see such dramatic cognitive improvement [in animal models]"

New research could reverse memory loss in Alzheimer’s patients

Remember Again

A new study reveals a way to reverse memory loss in animal models of Alzheimer's disease, and it could one day work in people, too.

New Research Could Reverse Memory Loss in Alzheimer’s Patients

The treatment restored three kinds of memory in animal models.

<h2>Treatment Plan</h2>
<p>A new nationwide clinical trial is currently recruiting people with Alzheimer&#8217;s disease to see if a new drug can halt or slow down memory loss and other symptoms.</p>
<p>The trial, <a href="http://www.t2protect.org/#!/ABOUT">called &#8220;T2 Protect AD,&#8221;</a> involves 48 weeks of treatment and monitoring. Subjects will receive either a placebo or a drug called troriluzole, which has been shown to slow down the rate at which brain cells die off, <a href="https://wgme.com/news/nation-world/new-alzheimers-drug-tested-at-vanderbilt-seeks-to-slow-or-stop-memory-loss-01-04-2019">according to <em>WGME</em></a> — and if it&#8217;s successful, the trial could chart a new course for dementia treatment.</p>
<h2>Branching Out</h2>
<p>Riluzole, the active ingredient of troriluzole and other similar drugs, is a neuroprotectant — it alters chemical pathways in the brain to prevent the buildup of glutamate, a neurotransmitter that&#8217;s been implicated in the cellular dysfunction associated with neurodegenerative diseases. It&#8217;s been available as a treatment for amyotophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) since 1995, according to <em>WGME</em>. But a new version of the drug, developed by Biohaven Pharmaceuticals, just <a href="https://www.biohavenpharma.com/investors/news-events/press-releases/11-26-2018">received FDA approval</a> as a new treatment mechanism for ALS.</p>
<p>There&#8217;s good reason to suspect that troriluzole may benefit people with Alzheimer&#8217;s <a href="https://www.biohavenpharma.com/investors/news-events/press-releases/07-24-2018">in a similar way</a> to how it&#8217;s used to treat ALS, as the mechanisms of cellular breakdown by the two diseases share similarities.</p>
<h2>Treatment Mechanism</h2>
<p>While a great deal of Alzheimer&#8217;s research focuses on <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/alzheimers-eye-scan-octa">detection and prevention</a>, T2 Protect AD may instead help doctors develop a new treatment — the findings of the study could give people a new way to manage and lessen their Alzheimer&#8217;s symptoms, even if they can&#8217;t be reversed.</p>
<p class="p-text">&#8220;There are a lot of trials out there trying to prevent Alzheimer&#8217;s disease&#8230; and very few for those who have already established dementia,&#8221; principal investigator Judith Heidebrink <a href="https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2018/12/28/alzheimers-drug-troriluzole-dementia/2424261002/">told <em>Detroit Free Press</em></a>. &#8220;We need to really have therapies for folks already showing symptoms, as well as prevent the following generation from showing symptoms.&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>READ MORE: </strong><a href="https://wgme.com/news/nation-world/new-alzheimers-drug-tested-at-vanderbilt-seeks-to-slow-or-stop-memory-loss-01-04-2019">New Alzheimer&#8217;s drug seeks to slow or stop memory loss</a> [<em>WGME</em>]</p>
<p><strong><em>More on Alzheimer&#8217;s Disease: <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/alzheimers-ultrasound-human-trials">TREATMENT TO REVERSE ALZHEIMER’S SYMPTOMS MOVING TO HUMAN TRIALS</a></em></strong></p>


The drug already provides short-term benefits to people with ALS.

New drug trial could halt Alzheimer's memory loss

New Medicine

A new clinical trial is recruiting patients to see if a drug that stops ALS-related neuron death can also help people with Alzheimer's Disease.

New Drug Trial Could Halt Alzheimer’s Memory Loss

Could an ALS drug can be repurposed to fight Alzheimer's?

<h2>Eye Contact</h2>
<p>Alzheimer&#8217;s is a ruinous brain disease that causes progressive memory loss. For years, we lacked a practical way to detect it — but new evidence suggests that a non-invasive eye scan could spot early signs of the condition.</p>
<p>At the 122<span data-fontsize="12">nd</span> Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, not one but two research teams presented studies that suggest that changes in blood vessels in the eye can indicate Alzheimer&#8217;s before symptoms appear — and it may be the early detection technique we need to get ahead of this devastating disease.</p>
<h2>Don&#8217;t Blink</h2>
<p>The eye imaging technique at the center of both studies is called <a href="https://youtu.be/auSNvLRKJN0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA)</a>. It uses light waves to image the retina in cross sections — a non-invasive scanning process that takes less than 30 seconds, but can provide researchers with a detailed view of even the smallest veins in the eye.</p>
<p>For their study, researchers from Duke University compared the OCTA scans of healthy people with the scans of people with Alzheimer&#8217;s or mild cognitive impairments. They noticed that only the scans of the people with Alzheimer&#8217;s revealed the loss of certain small retinal blood vessels and a thinning of a specific layer of the retina.</p>
<p>Researchers from <a href="https://registration.experientevent.com/ShowAAO181/Flow/ATTENDEE#/registrant//ShowItems/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Israel&#8217;s Sheba Medical Center</a> took a different approach for their OCTA study. They compared the OCTA scans of people with a family history of Alzheimer&#8217;s but no actual symptoms with those of people with no family history of the disease. The OCTA scans revealed that the innermost retina layer was thinner in the people with a family history of Alzheimer&#8217;s.</p>
<h2>Scan the Room</h2>
<p>Right now, our best means for detecting Alzheimer&#8217;s early are expensive brain scans or potentially harmful spinal taps. However, treatments are most likely to be effective when applied early, meaning early diagnosis is key to our success in battling this disease.</p>
<p>Based on the results of these studies, OCTA could be the quick, inexpensive Alzheimer&#8217;s screening technology we&#8217;ve been waiting for.</p>
<p><strong>READ MORE: </strong><a href="https://www.aao.org/newsroom/news-releases/detail/evidence-eye-scan-may-detect-early-alzheimers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Evidence Mounts That an Eye Scan May Detect Early Alzheimer’s Disease</a> [American Academy of Ophthalmology]</p>
<p><em><strong>More on Alzheimer&#8217;s: <a href="https://futurism.com/videos/the-most-valuable-alzheimers-test-created-so-far" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Most Valuable Alzheimer’s Test Created So Far</a></strong></em></p>


Your eyes could reveal your future brain health.

An eye scan could detect Alzheimer’s before symptoms appear

Peeper Power

An eye scan that provides detailed images of the retina and blood vessels could help us detect Alzheimer's disease before symptoms appear.

An Eye Scan Could Detect Alzheimer’s Before Symptoms Appear

We've been looking for a cheap, non-invasive screening method. This could be it.

<h2>BURDEN OF CARE</h2>
<p>Alzheimer&#8217;s is a <a href="https://www.alz.org/media/HomeOffice/Facts%20and%20Figures/facts-and-figures.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">devastating brain disease</a>. It doesn&#8217;t just rob sufferers of their ability to think, remember, and reason. It also places a massive burden on families, caregivers, and the <a href="http://act.alz.org/site/DocServer/2012_Costs_Fact_Sheet_version_2.pdf?docID=7161" target="_blank" rel="noopener">economy</a>.</p>
<p>And as people in the United States live longer, far more of them will be stricken with the disease, according to a <a href="https://www.alzheimersanddementia.com/article/S1552-5260(18)33252-7/fulltext">new report</a> from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Within 40 years, the number of people in the United States with Alzheimer&#8217;s disease will <a href="https://health.usnews.com/health-care/articles/2018-09-20/us-alzheimers-cases-to-nearly-triple-by-2060">almost triple</a>, from about 5 million to nearly 14 million.</p>
<p>That&#8217;s not simply due to population growth. The overall proportion of Americans with Alzheimer&#8217;s disease will jump from about 1.6 percent to an estimated 3.3 percent by 2060, according to the report, which was published Wednesday in <i>Alzheimer&#8217;s &amp; Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer&#8217;s Association</i>.</p>
<h2>SILVER LINING</h2>
<p>There&#8217;s a bright side to this news. According to a <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2018/p0920-alzheimers-burden-double-2060.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CDC press release</a>, the &#8220;increases are a result of fewer people dying from other chronic diseases and surviving into older adulthood when the risk for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias increases.&#8221;</p>
<p>In other words: we&#8217;re better at treating other diseases, so we&#8217;re inadvertently increasing the size of the population susceptible to Alzheimer&#8217;s. Since we obviously don&#8217;t want to slow down that progress, then, we&#8217;re going to need to make <a href="https://futurism.com/bill-gates-investing-alzheimers-research/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Alzheimer&#8217;s research</a> a priority.</p>
<p>Right now, there&#8217;s no cure for Alzheimer&#8217;s, and the only way we know to prevent it is through <a href="https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/research_progress/prevention" target="_blank" rel="noopener">healthy lifestyle choices</a>. We&#8217;re going to need to do better than that if we want to avoid a future in which the burden of the disease weighs even more heavily on our strained economy and healthcare system.</p>
<p><strong>READ MORE</strong>: <a href="https://health.usnews.com/health-care/articles/2018-09-20/us-alzheimers-cases-to-nearly-triple-by-2060" target="_blank" rel="noopener">U.S. Alzheimer&#8217;s Cases to Nearly Triple by 2060</a> [<em>U.S. News</em>]</p>
<p><em><strong>More on Alzheimer&#8217;s: <a href="https://futurism.com/bill-gates-investing-alzheimers-research/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bill Gates Just Announced a $100 Million Initiative to Defeat Alzheimer’s</a></strong></em></p>


Americans are living longer. That will mean more people with Alzheimer's.

Health & Medicine

The number of Americans with Alzheimer's disease will increase from 5 million to nearly 14 million by 2060, according to a new CDC report.

Americans Are Living Longer. That Will Mean More People With Alzheimer’s.

Within 40 years, the number of Americans with Alzheimer's will almost triple, the CDC predicts.

<h2>ALTERNATE HYPOTHESIS</h2>
<p>Most researchers believe that Alzheimer&#8217;s disease is caused by <a href="https://futurism.com/path-reversing-damage-caused-alzheimers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">amyloid plaques</a> or <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/09/150902134925.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">protein tangles</a>.</p>
<p>But <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/09/09/645629133/infectious-theory-of-alzheimers-disease-draws-fresh-interest"><em>NPR</em> reports</a> that another theory has been percolating in the scientific community for decades: that the memory-ravaging illness is caused by an infectious microbe. And one advocate is putting up $1 million of his own money to anyone who can provide proof of that hypothesis.</p>
<h2>FORGET ME NOT</h2>
<p>Leslie Norins holds a medical degree and spent his career at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and in medical publishing. When he reviewed the literature on Alzheimer&#8217;s several years ago, he was struck — <em>so </em>much evidence hinted that the disease could be caused by a bacteria, virus, fungi or parasite.</p>
<p>In 2016, for instance, 32 researchers signed <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5457904/">an editorial</a> calling for further research into the Alzheimer&#8217;s germ hypothesis. Researchers interviewed by <em>NPR</em> agreed that the possibility was worth exploring.</p>
<h2>THE ALZHEIMER&#8217;S GERM</h2>
<p>Norins came to believe that not enough research money is spent investigating those alternate theories. So in January of this year, he <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/1-million-prize-for-alzheimers-disease-germ-announced-by-dr-leslie-norins-on-alzgermorg-300582042.html">announced the Alzheimer&#8217;s Germ Question</a>, a challenge with a $1 million prize for anyone who provides persuasive proof Alzheimer&#8217;s is caused by a germ before the end of 2020.</p>
<p>&#8220;Hopefully, this challenge will help jump-start additional research interest globally in microbes,&#8221; said Norins. &#8220;To not investigate guarantees we will find nothing.&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>READ MORE:</strong> <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/09/09/645629133/infectious-theory-of-alzheimers-disease-draws-fresh-interest" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Infectious Theory of Alzheimer&#8217;s Disease Draws Fresh Interest</a> [<em>NPR</em>]</p>
<p><strong><em>More on Alzheimer&#8217;s disease: </em></strong><em><a href="https://futurism.com/theres-a-weird-relationship-between-cancer-and-alzheimers/">There&#8217;s a Weird Relationship Between Cancer and Alzheimer&#8217;s</a></em></p>


We may need to take a new approach to treating Alzheimer's.

A researcher is offering a prize to anyone who can prove a germ causes Alzheimer's

A medical researcher is offering $1 million of his own money to anyone who can provide proof that an "Alzheimer's germ" exists.

A Researcher Is Offering a Prize to Anyone Who Can Prove a Germ Causes Alzheimer’s

Could Alzheimer's be a transmittable disease?

<h2>Future breakthrough?</h2>
<p>Researchers were able to <a href="https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-02-successfully-reverse-alzheimer-disease-mouse.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reverse the formation of amyloid plaques</a>, which gradually kill neurons in patients with Alzheimer&#8217;s disease, in the brains of mice — essentially reversing the condition.</p>
<p>Alongside the reduction of plaques that impair communication between brain cells, the mice also experienced cognitive improvement. The team from the Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute in the U.S. detailed the findings in the <a href="http://jem.rupress.org/content/early/2018/02/13/jem.20171831" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Journal of Experimental Medicine.</em></a> The authors achieved the promising set of results by gradually depleting an enzyme that plays a part in the formation of the plaques, known as BACE1.</p>
<h2>Proof of concept</h2>
<p>One of the most concrete ways in which Alzheimer&#8217;s is identified in a patient is through an abnormal buildup of beta-amyloid peptide, a protein that can build into the large amyloid plaques in the brain that are a <a href="https://futurism.com/new-inhibitor-molecule-brings-us-closer-to-alzheimers-treatment/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">telltale sign of the deadly, and to date incurable disease</a>. BACE1 helps to produce beta-amyloid peptide, and so inhibiting the enzyme with drugs could ultimately open the door to effective Alzheimer&#8217;s treatments by halting the buildup.</p>
<figure style="width: 779px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img class="wp-image-123156 size-large aligncenter" src="https://wp-assets.futurism.com/2018/02/alzheimers.jpg" alt="A mouse with Alzheimer's disease (left) shows red amyloid plaques and green activated microglial cells. On the right is the brain of a mouse that has gradually lost BACE1. Image Credit: Hu et al., 2018" width="779" height="399" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">A mouse with Alzheimer&#8217;s disease (left) shows red amyloid plaques and green activated microglial cells. On the right is the brain of a mouse that has gradually lost BACE1. Image Credit: Hu et al., 2018</figcaption></figure>
<p>The researchers tested the hypothesis by engineering a group of mice that lose the BACE1 enzyme as they grow older. And while mice that lacked the enzyme altogether were found to suffer severe neurological defects, those who stopped producing it over time remained healthy.</p>
<p>To see how this new genetic makeup performs against Alzheimer&#8217;s, the researchers then bred their healthy mice with others engineered to develop the disease. They found that while amyloid plaques started building up in the brain of the offspring, they also disappeared as the mice progressively lost the BACE1 enzyme.</p>
<h2>Long way ahead</h2>
<p>However, the authors explain that such promising results don&#8217;t come without caveats. First, the experiment has only been performed in a mouse model, so there is no guarantee that comparable results will be achieved in humans. Additionally, BACE1 takes part in many other important processes in the body, and drugs that progressively destroy it could have serious side effects.</p>
<p><a href="https://futurism.com/dementia-deep-brain-stimulation/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Treating Alzheimer&#8217;s disease </a>is a difficult and often heartbreaking process, and this research is neither a miracle nor a missed target. This might only be the first step towards realizing such an effective treatment, but given early results it&#8217;s a worthwhile avenue to pursue.</p>


By the time the mice were 10 months old, their brains were healthy again.

Scientists reverse Alzheimer's in mice

Researchers engineered mice with low levels of a key enzyme involved in the development of Alzheimer's. This helped reverse the disease in their offspring.

Scientists Reverse Alzheimer's in Mice

But the treatment comes with significant caveats.

Scientists Reverse Alzheimer’s in Mice

<h2>Stimulating Response</h2>
<p>Doctors at the Ohio State University <a href="https://wexnermedical.osu.edu/">Wexner Medical Center</a> are experimenting with an implanted &#8220;pacemaking&#8221; device in Alzheimer&#8217;s patients to help them retain independence. The device allows the patient to undergo Deep Brain Stimulation therapy.</p>
<p>This therapy involves implanting electric wires deep into a patient&#8217;s brain and connecting them to a battery pack implanted in the chest. The pack sends electric currents through the wires to stimulate the part of the brain that controls the abilities to plan, problem-solve, and use judgment.</p>
<p><iframe width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hpHYhjU_iDQ?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p>The therapy is already in use by hundreds of thousands of patients living with <a href="https://futurism.com/its-nearly-possible-to-shut-off-parkinsons-with-a-flick-of-a-switch/">Parkinson&#8217;s disease</a> to help overcome tremors. The use of Deep Brain Stimulation to treat Alzheimer&#8217;s is still in the experimental stage. While previous studies have focused on stimulating the brain regions governing memory, this new study moves the focus area.</p>
<p>The Ohio State tests have shown positive results in all three of the patients in the pilot study, and the progression of the disease significantly slowed in two patients, according to <a href="https://content.iospress.com/articles/journal-of-alzheimers-disease/jad170082?resultNumber=0&amp;totalResults=1&amp;start=0&amp;q=Scharre&amp;dc_issued_year=2018&amp;resultsPageSize=10&amp;rows=10">a paper published in the <em>Journal of Alzheimer&#8217;s Disease</em></a>. By turning back on parts of the brain, the two patients could be able to retain quality of life longer than those not undergoing the therapy. While it may not be able to defeat the disease itself, Deep Brain Stimulation seems to have the potential to provide patients and their families some welcome, immediate relief.</p>
<p>However, the science behind the therapy&#8217;s effectiveness for Alzheimer&#8217;s is still developing. Andres Lozano of the University of Toronto is also undertaking studies to test the therapy&#8217;s effectiveness with Alzheimer&#8217;s patients. Lozano stressed in an interview with <i><a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/health-42857576">the BCC</a></i> that the treatment is not meant to cure the disease, and it does not cease cognitive decline altogether.</p>
<h2>Assault on Alzheimer&#8217;s</h2>
<p>Researchers around the world are painstakingly working to better understand Alzheimer&#8217;s to fuel future breakthroughs in treatment. To that end, Microsoft co-founder <a href="https://futurism.com/bill-gates-investing-alzheimers-research/">Bill Gates announced a $100 million initiative</a> late last year to help defeat the debilitating disease along with other forms of dementia. Part of this initiative will focus on easier and faster diagnoses to treat the disease earlier.</p>
<p>A promising new blood test being studied in Japan could increase the time doctors have to treat the disease by <a href="https://futurism.com/alzheimers-30-years-answer-blood/">up to three decades</a>. Not only could early detection let doctors form better treatment plans, but it could also help researchers learn more about how the disease progresses over this long period of time, giving greater insight into its development.</p>
<p><iframe width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yJXTXN4xrI8?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p>Other researchers are working on treatments that could potentially <a href="https://futurism.com/path-reversing-damage-caused-alzheimers/">delay or even prevent</a> the disease from developing. Scientists from the <a href="https://medicine.wustl.edu/">Washington University School of Medicine</a> in St. Louis, Mo, are targeting a specific gene variant that increases the risk of developing the disease by a factor of 12.</p>
<p>Human trials are also underway for two preventative measures that could also prevent the disease from ever developing. Researchers from the <a href="https://keck.usc.edu/research/">University of Southern California (USC) Keck School of Medicine</a> are <a href="https://keck.usc.edu/alzheimers-vaccine">testing an oral medication as well as a vaccine</a> that target the proteins which build up in the brains of disease sufferers.</p>
<p>However, all of these procedures are still under investigation. Deep Brain Stimulation therapies could be a very welcome addition to treat the symptoms of the disease while researchers work on ending the disease once and for all. Allowing patients to retain greater levels of independence is a fantastic step forward and will buy families more time as the researchers continue their important work.</p>


The treatment significantly slowed the disease's progression in two of three patients in the pilot study.

Deep Brain Stimulation therapy could help treat Alzheimer's

Researchers are testing Deep Brain Stimulation in Alzheimer's patients.The therapy seems to reduce the disease's effects on cognition.

/Alzheimers Disease

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