Alzheimer's Cure or Over-Optimism?

[jimmydasaint]

It looks like there has been a breakthrough in Alzheimer's Disease treatment. For those of you who don't know, it appears that most forms of dementia, where mature people have problems with thinking or memory. There seems to be a continuum of symptoms. In America, it affects the quality of life of 5.3 million Americans and also has a problematic effect on the families of the people diagnosed with the disease.

 

Fans of the Sopranos series will recall the effect of Alzheimer's Disease on Corrado John Soprano Jr, where his dementia was made more poignant as his confusion about the past and present became more and more apparent.

 

However, a mouse model for Alzheimer's seems to have now made significant progress. After reading the following, do you agree?

 

MIT researchers who were previously able to reverse the signs of Alzheimer’s disease in mice have now identified the specific gene involved in the process.

 

The gene, called HDAC2, is part of a family of genes known to regulate gene expression by modifying a structure in the cell nucleus called chromatin. When HDAC is inhibited, this structure is loosened up, effectively letting other important genes express themselves.

 

When the researchers gave HDAC2 inhibiting drugs to mice who were bred to have a condition similar to Alzheimer’s disease in humans, the mice regained the ability to perform previously learned, but forgotten, tasks and, what’s more, were able to learn new tasks. Other mice that were bred to produce no HDAC2 all exhibited enhanced memories.

 

Now she and her colleagues plan to see whether the drugs used in mice might be successful in people as well. “In the next step, we will develop new HDAC2-selective inhibitors and test their function for human diseases associated with memory impairment to treat neurodegenerative diseases.”

 

http://www.ivanhoe.com/channels/p_channelstory.cfm?storyid=21416

 

http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_what_is_alzheimers.asp

[cameron marical]

Sounds promising

[Difference]

There is still long way to go.

[jimmydasaint]

Of course there is a long way to go, from mouse studies to actual clinical trials and then awaiting the results. I agree with you. However in the light of the following, I think it is critical to proceed with clinical trials as soon as possible:

 

Is a progressive and fatal brain disease. As many as 5.3 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer's destroys brain cells, causing problems with memory, thinking and behavior severe enough to affect work, lifelong hobbies or social life. Alzheimer’s gets worse over time, and it is fatal. Today it is the seventh-leading cause of death in the United States. For more information, see Warning Signs and Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease.

 

http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_what_is_alzheimers.asp