July 7, 2016
At Continuum in St. Louis, there’s never been a more exciting time in the world of Alzheimer’s research than now, and new developments seem to be springing up each time we turn around. The latest data is likely to create a big leap forward in the crusade for a cure: the correlation between Alzheimer’s and the body’s natural immune response to infections.
While researchers have long been connecting the dots between the beta amyloid protein and Alzheimer’s, the newest bend in the road to a cure comes from the realization that this protein is showing the ability to fend off infections in mice. If this bacteria-fighting protein produces a comparable effect in humans, eliminating beta amyloid, as some drug trials have tried, could be dangerous.
If this theory is accurate, the logical supposition is that Alzheimer’s is activated by an over-reactive immune response to a virus, causing problems in older brains that cannot handle the overload.
While still inconclusive, the findings coincide with what Continuum in St. Louis, MO already knows about the importance of exercise, proper sleep and a healthy diet, expanding those benefits into the realm of potentially preventing Alzheimer’s. It also lays the way for other conceivable treatments, including vaccines and inflammatory reduction medications.
There is still much to learn before a cure for Alzheimer’s exists. Let Continuum in St. Louis, MO help you take care of your loved ones in need of in home care. Contact Continuum to learn more.