Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Alzheimer Cure Found By Scientists

Alzheimer Cure Found By Scientists

SCIENTISTS believe they have discovered a “cure” for Alzheimer’s, the devastating illness that affects nearly 600,000 people in the UK.

For years experts have been looking for a way of preventing the debilitating brain condition.

Now British and American ­scientists have found a way of halting its spread.

Last night the discovery was being hailed by experts as a huge development in the fight against the condition – as the number of victims is likely to double over the next decade.

One of the researchers described the breakthrough as “blindingly simple”.

Alzheimer’s is caused when amyloid – a chemical that naturally occurs in the bloodstream – passes into the brain.

Once there it forms plaques that harden. These damage communication between brain cells and eventually cause brain cell death.

Scientists have discovered a synthetic human protein that is capable of soaking up amyloid – preventing it leaking into the brain.

Researchers say trials will start within two years.

Patients will be screened for the disease by a blood test that reveals if they have high levels of amyloid.

Professor Berislav Zlokovic, of Rochester University in the US, who is behind the new study, said: “Stop over-production of amyloid and you effectively cure Alzheimer’s disease. It’s very simple.”

He said lab experiments had been so successful that he and his team were “convinced it will work in humans”.

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9 comments:

Justin said...

I remember how my grandfather deteriorated in the years before he died because of that damned disease. He eventually had to pretend he knew who I was. Alzheimer's was what took him away from us. I hope the cure ends up safe and cheap so no one ever has to suffer like that again.

Jan-Willem Bats said...

I wish Parkinson, cancer, diabetes, obesity and hairloss the same bon voyage.

Justin said...

Hair loss?

Unknown said...

My Grandmother is currently suffering (as are my parents who take care of her) from alzheimer's, and it's painful to watch her gradually not even remember there own daughter. God Speed in this development, I too hope it's all that I've read so far.

Jan-Willem Bats said...

"Hair loss?"

Goddamn straight.

It'll fuck you up psychologically if you suffer from it too soon... say early twenties.

It's not lifethreatening (which makes it so effin' bad, because it took a long time before biotech took hair loss seriously), but it's definitely in the category of things-to-be-solved-so-we-can-live-our-damn-lives-and-focus-on-important-matters.

I had to have a hair transplant to fix my temples.

Until there's a genetic cure for hairloss, I'm stuck to swallowing finasteride for the rest of my life.

The whole experience sliced a vast chunk of quality from my life.

Think nobody ever committed suicide because of hairloss?

Guess again.

The world doesn't need this devastating shit.

Irrationality ends here, right at this blog.

And that means hair loss is taken seriously.

Justin said...

Sorry it took me so long to reply.

I'm in my twenties and going bald as well, but it doesn't really bother me so much. It's not like baldness is a disfigurement that turns heads in public or something.

I wouldn't be surprised if someone had killed themselves over it... People kill themselves expecting to be given 70 virgins too. Baldness was just the catalyst for someone who had far worse problems in his head than on it.

Why is your hair so important to you?

Jan-Willem Bats said...

I used to be a fat fuck.

Lost 80 pounds and was just about to hit the beach.

Then that happened.

It's just the way things turned out.

My body was all I had back then.

I've got more in life now.

I'm fine these days.

It's all in the past now.

And as you can see in my profile pictures on StumbleUpon, the hair's doing just fine as well.

:)

Unknown said...

heej sneue lamlul,

post ik eens een berichtje op je site (en die was niet eens zo onvriendelijk of onwaar) en dan verwijder je die!

gedraag je es als een kerel joh, wijf.

Kristian said...

Of course what these physicians don't seem to realize is that the psychological damage caused by hair loss and feeling unattractive can be just as devastating as any serious disease, and in fact, can take an emotional toll that directly affects physical health. More over hair replacement is non cheap.