Have you ever noticed that your mother, father, or an elderly loved one is forgetting things? Sometimes forgetting names, addresses, or even remembering where your glasses are is normal as you get older. But if this forgetfulness gradually increases and you are unable to do even daily tasks on your own, it may be a symptom of Alzheimer's Disease. Then the biggest question that comes to our mind is, 'Why hasn't such a developed world found a cure for this disease yet?' Let's talk about it in depth today.
How was this disease first discovered?
This story begins more than 100 years ago, in 1901. A German doctor named Alois Alzheimer examined the brain of a woman who had died of dementia. He saw something very strange. Between the neurons in the brain, a type of protein had become sticky and tangled, like plaques. These were later called "plaques." He also saw that another type of protein had become tangled and tangled like threads inside the neurons. These were called "tangles."
Over time, scientists discovered that the scar-like plaques were made of a protein called beta-amyloid . They also discovered that the thread-like tangles were made of another protein called tau . Eventually, the disease was named "Alzheimer's disease" in honor of the doctor who discovered it.
The big story of the "Amyloid Hypothesis"
So, by the 1990s, a big idea had developed among researchers. That was, the main cause of this disease was beta-amyloid plaques that accumulated in the brain. This idea was called the "Amyloid Hypothesis." Simply put, they thought that these amyloid plaques were what caused brain cells to die and memory to fail.
So, for the past 30 years , most of the research on Alzheimer's disease and most of the efforts to find a cure have been based on this amyloid hypothesis.
But has this been successful? Not really. Hundreds of drugs have been tried to remove these amyloid plaques, but none have made a significant difference in the lives of patients. Drugs that reduce the amount of amyloid in the brain have not stopped the patient's memory loss or improved their daily lives. Even the recently approved drug `lecanemab` has only slightly controlled the worsening of the disease, but it is not a cure.
Are we stuck on the same path?
Because of these unsuccessful results, many researchers are now asking, "Are we going in the wrong direction?" In fact, science is not something that can make a big difference all at once. It's like a big ship, it can't be turned around all at once. Researchers study the same topic for years, and then do more research on the same topic. Then, a large group of people and knowledge are built around the same idea. When you go to work with a new idea, the relevant methods and experience are lacking. So, in the case of Alzheimer's, this big ship was sailing in the direction of "amyloid." Therefore, very little attention was paid to other causes, such as inflammation, various infections, or autoimmune illnesses.
But, this amyloid story is not entirely wrong. Perhaps the problem lies in the medication. Or, the timing of the medication may be wrong. Perhaps these medications should be started years before symptoms appear.
There was another problem. Until about ten years ago, there was no way to 100% confirm Alzheimer's disease while someone was alive, except by examining their brains after they died. So, some of the people who participated in the old studies didn't actually have Alzheimer's disease. So the data from those studies was wrong, right?
But now the situation is different. With new technology, especially PET scans and cerebrospinal fluid tests, it is possible to detect the presence of amyloid and tau proteins in the brain of a living person.
The 'Traffic Jam' Inside the Brain and New Research
Now, instead of just thinking about removing those plaques, researchers are starting to look at the root cause of the problem, asking, "Why do these plaques form?" It's as if you can't solve the problem without knowing exactly where it is. Now, there are several new theories about this. Let's see what they are.
| New Research Direction | In simple terms... |
|---|---|
| Cellular Level Problem | A 'traffic jam' occurs in the system that moves proteins around inside brain cells. This causes amyloid and tau proteins to build up. Researchers are looking for ways to clear this 'jam'. |
| Autoimmune disease | According to this theory, amyloid is part of the brain's immune system. However, due to some error, this system goes haywire and attacks healthy brain cells instead of fighting infections. |
| Infections and Inflammation | There is evidence that inflammation in the brain caused by certain viral infections, such as herpes, may be a cause of Alzheimer's disease. |
| Metabolic Disease | Some people call this "brain diabetes" or "Type 3 Diabetes." In this, brain cells do not respond properly to insulin (insulin resistance), causing inflammation and other damage. |
So is there nothing we can do? Let's talk about prevention.
When you hear all this, you might think, 'Oh, there's nothing you can do about it.' But don't think so. The good news is that Alzheimer's disease takes a long time to develop, about 20 to 30 years. That means we have a lot of time to stop or slow down the progression of the disease.
Although there is a genetic influence, there are many modifiable risk factors that can affect the development of Alzheimer's disease. These are:
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Cardiovascular disease
- High cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- Hearing loss
- Depression and loneliness
That means controlling your blood pressure, cholesterol, and sugar levels , maintaining a healthy weight, exercising, and eating a balanced diet are the best things you can do to reduce your risk of Alzheimer's. Sometimes, even something as simple as using a hearing aid for a hearing problem can make a big difference.
The biggest advantage of these things is that they are less risky, less expensive, and better for our overall health. How much more valuable is it to change our lifestyle than to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars a year on a new drug?
In the future, Alzheimer's treatment, like cancer treatment, may involve a combination of several different methods and drugs, a "cocktail," rather than a single drug. However, the greatest hope in the fight against this disease is for scientists to question their old beliefs and find new paths.
Take-Home Message
- Alzheimer's is a very complex disease. It is not limited to the accumulation of amyloid plaques in the brain.
- Therefore, it will not be possible to cure this disease with a single "magic pill" in the near future.
- Researchers are now focusing on various aspects such as autoimmune problems, infections, and metabolic diseases.
- The most important thing: You can reduce your risk. It's important to control your blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, exercise, and eat a healthy diet.
- If you have any concerns or fears about your memory or the memory of a loved one, don't delay in talking to your doctor about it. The sooner you talk about it, the better.
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න