The University of Glasgow and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology researchers recently found that daily injections of IL-33 protein can help reverse the cognitive decline among Alzheimer's disease patients. According to experts, the recent findings can be a vital breakthrough for the research of the disease.
One in nine American with age 65 and older is suffering from Alzheimer's disease. It is the most common form of dementia that affects almost 5.2 million in the United States, Alzheimer's Association reveals.
The IL-33 Protein
IL-33 protein is a type of protein that is naturally produced in the human body. According to the study's co-researcher Professor Eddy Liew, IL-33 protein is produced in various cell types in the body, with an adequate amount of it found in the central nervous system such as brain and spinal cord, NH Voice learns.
Aside from improving and restoring cognitive health, IL-33 protein also helps prevent further development of toxic amyloid plaques in the brain. With that said, IL-33 protein injections can potentially stop Alzheimer's disease and its symptoms from coming back.
"The hallmarks of Alzheimer's include the presence of extracellular amyloid plaque deposits and the formation of neurofibrillary tangles in the brain," professor Liew said. "During the course of the disease, 'plaques' and 'tangles' build up, leading to the loss of connections between nerve cells."
The IL-33 protein injections, however, are not yet available for human trials as researchers are still testing the toxicity of the protein doses used. In the research, scientists injected the protein to the APP/PS1 mice for a week.
Alzheimer's Disease Research
There have been two groundbreaking discoveries in the recent Alzheimer's disease research. First, researchers discovered the earliest symptom of preclinical Alzheimer's and second, the potential way to reverse the symptoms of the disease, Modern Readers notes.
The recent research findings also suggested a link between navigational problems and the early-onset of Alzheimer's disease. Experts revealed the capacity of the patients' brains to build, store and access mental maps of their surroundings was reduced.
"These findings suggest that navigational tasks designed to assess a cognitive mapping strategy could represent a powerful new tool for detecting the very earliest Alzheimer's disease-related changes in cognition," associate professor of psychological and brain sciences in Arts & Sciences Denise Head wrote.
Head also added the "spatial navigation task" utilized in the recent Alzheimer's study was more sensitive at detecting preclinical Alzheimer's, compared to the standard psychometric task of episodic memory.
Alzheimer's Disease Risk Factors And Prevention
Those who have parents or siblings that have dementia are at greater risk for Alzheimer's. Age is also a factor that increases the risk for Alzheimer's as well as medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and sleep apnea, Miami Herald reports.
As for Alzheimer's prevention, ditching smoking, limiting alcohol consumption and increasing physical activity can be a great help. Mediterranean and low-fat diets with fish, green leafy veggies, fruits, nuts, green tea and chocolate in moderation are also helpful.
Experts also advise patients to stay cognitively active. Experts say watching TV doesn't help instead, learning a new language, taking classes and doing puzzles and games can help improve mood and avoid depression.
In other news, Drexel Neurosciences Institute researchers are reportedly looking for healthy participants for their investigational Alzheimer's drug research. According to Philly Voice, the Anti-Amyloid in Asymptomatic Alzheimer's Disease Study (A4) will investigate the effectiveness of the drug solanezumab in reducing amyloid plaque formation that disrupts metabolic processes and obstructs the spaces between the brain's nerve cells.
Meanwhile, medical and scientific experts are hopeful that the findings can pave the way to better treatment options to Alzheimer's disease patients. They also emphasize that the findings should be viewed with cautious optimism.
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