Are we close to a cure for Alzheimer's disease? November 2015

Alzheimer's disease affects millions of people in North America alone. As the disorder progresses it can be disabling with most individuals ending up in a nursing home. With a 5-fold projected increase in Alzheimer's patients in the few decades, scientists have desperately been search for a cure but is there any progress? Alzheimer's disease is not only the 6th leading cause of death in North America; it is also a major burden on the healthcare system. Currently we have no way of curing or preventing its progression. This is not because of lack of trying. For the past two decades scientists have studied the plaques and tangles in the brain that cause memory and behavioral problems. Why these plaques and tangles develop is not well understood but we do know that these structures develop much earlier in the disease. The current belief is that these abnormal proteins may somehow be linked to the cause of Alzheimer's disease. Currently there is research to target development of these abnormal proteins, either by preventing their formation or dissolving them. So far, no chemical or drug has been found to prevent or affect these protein structures.
Based on these initial studies, scientists have now developed better imaging tests that can detect development of these abnormal proteins in the brain. This has helped develop screening for develop of Dementia in some familial cases of the disorder.
Other research has focused on genes. Since some causes of early onset Alzheimer's disease are inherited, researchers have now found that several genes in these patients are often abnormal (mutated) and this may lead to accumulation of the plaques and tangles in the brain. Some of these genes may cause development of Alzheimer's disease in women and other genes may increase the risk of the Dementia in African Americans.
While no cure is available, the last 10 years has seen the development of the first Alzheimer's drug for thinking and memory symptoms and there is a blood test that has the potential for diagnosis of the disease. Researchers believe that the treatment of Alzheimer's disease will eventually require the use of a cocktail of medications aimed at several targets, just like we treat cancer and HIV patients.
Current advances in imaging now permit us to visualize the living brain in Alzheimer's patients and it is hoped that with new interventions, these imaging studies will be used to determine if the drugs are working. Although there is active research on Alzheimer's disease, there is lot more that needs to be done, especially when it comes to funding the research that has been restricted in many areas. Heart disease and cancer for example receive billions of dollars in funding each year, whereas Alzheimer's disease research lags way behind. Scientists do have the talent and tools to make a breakthrough in Alzheimer's disease but they also need resources to make this a reality. Finally there is a serious lack of volunteers for research in Alzheimer's disease. Without participation of patients, scientists have no way to study the actual disease. Only effective participation of patients in clinical trials will overcome these deficits in research. Individuals who volunteer are not only going to be getting active care but they are also paving ways for better treatment options for patients with the same disease.
Dr. David Tal has more than twenty years of clinical experience. He strongly believes that medical treatment can improve the life of Alzheimer's and memory loss patients. His participation at the Age Matters Clinic allows him to share his knowledge with patients and their families.