Researchers Testing Alzheimer's
.
Alzheimer's Donation
Donate Online Now
.

A U.S. scientist says the true cause of the neurological damage resulting from Alzheimer's disease might rest in the way certain brain proteins fold.Professor Michael Bowers of the University of California-Santa Barbara says the key to his approach is understanding the way those proteins fold, or rather, "misfold."Bowers says until about five or six years ago, everyone assumed large amyloid plaques found in the brains of Alzheimer's victims caused the disease. "However, recent scientific discoveries indicate that these large, insoluble aggregates might merely be markers of the disease -- they do not cause the disease," said Bowers. "Rather, smaller soluble oligomers, or peptide complexes, are now felt to be the causative agents, and I find that very interesting." His research team is analyzing the structure and composition of the Abeta 42 peptide and its oligomers, studying the way that peptide folds, causing it to aggregate and disrupt neuronal function.

It could be one of the biggest scientific breakthroughs ever, a new way to treat and even prevent Alzheimer's disease. For a 70-year-old, Ada English is in good shape. She has no outward signs she has early stage Alzheimer's disease, except to her family. Ada's husband of 50 years, Joseph says it's subtle, but significant. The confusion and memory loss that comes and goes. Alzheimer's is caused by the build up of plaque that slowly destroys parts of the brain and until now there's been no effective treatment. But now researchers are testing a promising new vaccine. Preliminary research shows the intravenous drug can eliminate plaque and prevent it from forming.