Recent findings by Icelandic gene researchers indicate that such a solution may be the answer. A genetic study of nearly 2,000 participants found the presence of a particular gene mutation was strongly linked to the absence of Alzheimer’s, as well as with significantly better cognitive function between the ages of 80 and 100 when compared with peers.
The gene that may control Alzheimer’s is referred to as APP, or amyloid precursor protein, and creates amyloid-beta, which is the “plaque” that inhibits proper neuron function. Those with the mutation show a 40-percent reduction in amyloid-beta production, while a different APP mutation is linked to early-onset Alzheimer’s. Studying the variety of APP mutations may reveal a spectrum of vulnerability to the disease.
While gene-replacement therapy is relatively new and still only in early testing stages, significant results are emerging to spur future research. Successful trials for inherited blindness disorders and several types of genetically linked cancers have yielded full success. With the discovery of an Alzheimer’s resistant gene, we may see an end to the disease in the next 50 years.
Dr. Bruce Lasker, neurologist, is a graduate of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and specializes in geriatric neurology with Pacific Neurology in San Diego.
The key to treating Alzheimer’s is timing. While there is no cure, the sooner a patient is given proper medication, the more brain function they are able to retain and the slower the disease will progress.
An ongoing study at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri, tested patients pre-disposed to Alzheimer’s by the presence of the disorder in one or both parents. The study discovered changes in brain scans that may indicate the disease as early as 25 years before any cognitive impairment is noticed.
While changes in spinal fluid appeared as the first warning, small plaque deposits appeared within 15 years of disease onset. These figures were determined by assuming that the manifestation of Alzheimer’s would occur at the same age as the parent.
The next step of the research design is to begin treatment with Alzheimer’s medications, such as Aricept or Razadyne, to see if such early care will prevent manifestation during the patient’s natural lifetime. Even if symptoms appear, it is believed that such early care could delay their arrival and significantly slow any progression.
Dr. Bruce Lasker is a neurologist specializing in geriatric cognitive disorders, specifically Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Practicing at Pacific Neurology in San Diego, Dr. Bruce Lasker has also taught in the department of neurosciences with the University of California San Diego.
Alzheimer’s disease is a neurological conditioning affecting memory, cognitive function, and behavior. Under the umbrella of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form, resulting in loss of memory and intellectual abilities that is severe enough to make daily living a challenge. The disease is progressive, which means it worsens over time, and typically affects people over the age of 65; however, early onset Alzheimer’s can affect people as young as 40 or 50.
Although many medications and treatment strategies can help to improve the symptoms of Alzheimer’s, there is no yet known cure. Neurologists studying or specializing in Alzheimer’s disease worldwide are presently focused on understanding the role that tangles in the brain play in the development and progression of the disease. Alzheimer’s is currently at the forefront of biomedical research efforts; 90 percent of information related to Alzheimer’s has been discovered over the last 15 years.
About the Author:
Bruce Lasker, MD, is a neurological professional with more than 20 years of experience. His practice, Pacific Neurology, is located in San Diego, California, and has been serving the community since 1987.
As the human body ages, it becomes prone to various conditions and diseases. The study and treatment of conditions related to aging is known as geriatric medicine. Geriatricians, those who specialize in geriatric medicine, work with the older population to address complex conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, strokes, fracture risks for post-menopausal women, and other age-related afflictions.
The field of geriatrics is rapidly developing in America; by 2030, one out of every five Americans will be over 65. Given this increase of patients requiring specialized care, the Alliance for Aging Research estimates a need for more than 33,000 geriatricians going forward. A multidisciplinary practice that requires sensitivity and compassionate care, the field of geriatric medicine can be both challenging and fulfilling for health care professionals.
About the Author:
Bruce Lasker, MD, is a neurologist in San Diego, California, where he has practiced for more than 20 years. Dr. Lasker completed a fellowship specializing in geriatric medicine and dementia with the University of California San Diego, and is currently an Associate Clinical Professor of the Department of Neurosciences for the University.
Dr. Bruce Lasker | Wordpress 