I was really surprised in the article this week about the aging brain that there could possible be a vaccine for Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's affects 1 out of 10 people over 65. It is a degenerative brain disease that causes mental and physical decline in brains ability to function. A foreign intruder, beta-amyloid, causes plaque to build up around the neurons. This is the cause of Alzheimer's disease. In 2001 research had came up with a vaccine that causes the body to create antibodies to remove beta-amyloid. This vaccine could possible halt or cure Alzheimer's disease. The article also goes on about how anti-inflammatory, estrogen, and diet also may help prevent the disease, but I was amazed to find out that they could possible have a vaccine. Especially because I have never heard of it and this research was done 12 years ago.
I have worked with many adults and have seen my grandparents suffer from Alzheimer's disease. It is a sad situation when someone that is suffering from the disease does not recognize there own children or grandchildren. In my grandmas sittution I noticed the disease was a lot more noticable when she was under stress of tying to also take care of my grandpa. He was also suffering from the disease. After he passed away she was able to think a lot clearer, and had less clinical signs of the disease for a few years. So I think stress can progress the disease faster.
If I could do more research, I would investigate further on foods that may progress the disease. I think nutrition is key problem to a lot of disease that we see and could possible be a trigger to Alzheimer disease too.
I knew that we were making progress in regards to Alzheimer’s disease, but I am not sure if it is fast enough. This disease also runs in my family and I can't tell you how frightened I am of someday facing this. I liked the way you described how this disease attacks the body, and agree with you that stress has to play an important role on the progression, as stress can do too many other diseases in general. If it has already been 12 years since they came up with a potential vaccine, why can't they put more priority on getting trials going on it? Makes me wonder how much pharmaceutical companies have to do with our progress towards ending diseases like this one. I hope and pray they hurry up before it is too late for me in case I do have to face this in my later years! Great Blog!
ReplyDeleteAlzheimers is a really important topic to me because i have lost several family members to this disease, and i have embraced the facet that i have a high chance of developing this disease myself. Now that my grandpa has alzheimers, i am so happy with the progression in research for treatment, and now apparently a way to slow the disease or prevent it from happening.
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