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November is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month. So, this seems like a perfect time to take another look at research into Alzheimer’s disease. If you missed my first article, you can find it here.
As I’ve searched the web, these are what I believe to be some of the most fascinating developments in Alzheimer’s research:
Can a simple blood test diagnose Alzheimer’s disease?
Several research projects are underway to determine if a blood test can predict or diagnose Alzheimer’s disease. The most promising so far seems to be a study done by the National Institute On Aging.
The study looked at the amount of a substance called IRS-1 in the blood of people living with Alzheimer’s disease as compared with healthy individuals. Amazingly, scientists could correctly identify individuals previously diagnosed with the disease with 100% accuracy. They hope the test could lead to a much earlier diagnosis of the disease—long before symptoms appear.
Further studies must be done to replicate the findings before blood tests become available in the clinical setting. Also, additional studies will need to be done over a longer time and with a larger number of people.
Is a new Alzheimer’s drug on the horizon?
Back in March, a major pharmaceutical company called Biogen halted trials on a potential drug to treat Alzheimer’s disease. They determined that the drug, aducanumab, did not meet expectations in slowing the progression of the disease. That’s why Biogen stunned the Alzheimer’s research community when, in October, they announced that trials of the drug would resume.
Why did Biogen change their decision? They based it on further analysis of existing trial results and additional data that became available. Their reports suggested that when the drug was administered in higher doses, it slowed the clinical decline in some participants with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease.
Will aducanumab become the next medication to treat Alzheimer’s disease? Time will tell.
How families help with Alzheimer’s research
Many of you know that we often divide Alzheimer’s disease into 2 categories: early-onset and late-onset. While late-onset Alzheimer’s generally occurs after the age of 65, the early-onset type affects people in their 30s, 40s, and 50s.
Another major difference between the two types is the fact that many cases of early-onset Alzheimer’s have a hereditary component. Late-onset tends to be more sporadic. That’s why family participation in early-onset research is especially important.
There’s one family research project that’s of special interest to me. That’s because the family lives right here in North Dakota.
After the patriarch of the DeMoe family developed Alzheimer’s disease at an unusually early age, his 6 children went through genetic testing. Sadly, all but one had inherited a rare gene mutation. This gave them a 100% chance of developing Alzheimer’s disease and a 50% chance that their children would eventually develop the disease.
Over the years, the DeMoe family has been involved in extensive research that we hope will help unlock the mystery of Alzheimer’s disease. If you would like to read more about the DeMoe family and their courageous journey, you’ll want to check out this book available on Amazon:
The Inheritance: A Family at the Front Lines of the Battle Against Alzheimer’s Disease
Now, here’s a question for you. If you inherited a gene for Alzheimer’s disease, would you want to know? Please let me know in the comment section.
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