Degenerative brain disorders are becoming increasingly common among young people nowadays and they are wrecking havoc around the globe.
Besides causing changes in the victim’s thoughts, reasoning and behavior, these diseases progressively cause the victim to lose memory, be unable to speak properly as well as have difficulty with movement.
The most common degenerative disorder of the brain is Alzheimer’s disease.
This is a terrible neurodegenerative disorder that, over the course of between 7 and 10 years, can render a victim unable to speak properly, recall much about their lives, recognize their family and friends, engage in coordinated movement, or use the toilet on their own.
Contrary to popular belief that it is impossible for this disease to strike young people, cases that prove otherwise have been reported around the world.
In fact health providers point out that Alzheimer’s disease is rising at a worrying rate worldwide and that if nothing is done, the disease might just become a pandemic in a few years time.
Hope for Alzheimer’s Treatment?
There is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease up to date, but there are various sorts of treatments that can be combined with diet, good care, and less worries to control its symptoms. However, there seems to be some glitter of hope for people who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease.
Groundbreaking Discovery
Recently, researchers found that certain licensed drugs can actually halt brain degeneration.
Experiments were conducted on mice which suggested that there are 2 drugs which could help reestablish the process of protein synthesis in the brain as well as prevent memory loss, raising the possibility of finding an actual cure.
The results were presented at the Alzheimer’s Society research conference held in Manchester every year, and described as tremendously encouraging.
There will be no lengthy clinical trials before these drugs can be approved as a cure for the disease since they are already proven to be safe and without serious side effects.
However, interestingly researchers decided not to disclose the 2 drugs, in order to eradicate the possibility of people using them prior to any clinical trial to determine their efficacy. They are currently used to cure conditions unrelated to Alzheimer’s disease.
The confidential drugs were found after the researchers screened numerous compounds in search of something safe with protective effects on the brain.
The head of research, maintained that the new results were hugely promising and went ahead to mention that the drugs have already been given to a group of patients and that researchers are confident these drugs are totally safe.
The findings confirmed the outcome of a particular study conducted 2 years ago, which suggested brain cell damage could be stopped in mice by shutting down certain faulty signal in the brain which halts production of new proteins.
However, this earlier discovery relied upon a compound which had serious physical side-effects including diabetes, making it unsafe for human beings.
Brain Imaging Test Will Be Crucial Before the Drugs Are Approved for Alzheimer’s disease
There are high hopes that the latest findings have brought. But researchers maintain that a brain scanning test will be crucial to ascertain that the same faulty signal which the drugs aim for in mice is the cause of neurodegeneration as well as the damaging memory loss it brings about in patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.
There is need to carry further test in the brain to prove that what is happening to the mice is happening to human beings. If scanning experiments are conducted soon enough, and the link between these 3 factors is confirmed, clinical tests of the drugs may start within a few years.
Previous Unsuccessful Attempts
Previously, there have been unsuccessful attempts to get rid of Alzheimer’s Disease by targeting some substances called ‘plaques’.These are simply deposits of malformed, sticky proteins, which are the basic characteristics of Alzheimer’s inside the heads of victims.
The latest discovery however makes a total shift away from these past failed attempts. Clare Walton, who is the head of research at the Alzheimers Society, noted that there have been numerous disappointments in the past, of drugs that simply aim at the plaques.
She pointed out that the drugs eradicated the plaques but failed to cure the disease.
In Summary
Alzheimers is soon going to be a disease of the past. The future is promising and we urge you not to give up just yet. Be on the lookout for the new Alzheimer’s disease cure coming to a chemist or clinic near you soon.
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