Current Research in Alzheimer’s Disease

by Gale Brubaker, Communication Specialist, Alzheimer’s Association

January 15, 2007

The Alzheimer’s Association is a major funder of Alzheimer’s Disease research, second only to the U.S. Government. There is an urgent priority for research because, at the current rate of progression, the incidence of Alzheimer’s Disease will grow to nearly 90,000 Iowans by 2025. This represents a great personal financial, social and emotional burden on families and friends, and a tremendously heavy economic burden on society.

Research focus concentrates on 3 areas:

• Causes and risk factors
• Diagnosis / early diagnosis
• Treatment and caregiving strategies

Causes and Risk Factors:

• Science is uncertain yet if plaques cause tangles or tangles cause plaques. The bottom line, though, is that getting information through the mess of plaques and tangles is like trying to kick a soccer ball through a chain link fence.
• There are two main types of Alzheimer’s Disease: Early on-set before the age of 65, and Late on-set after the age of 65.
• Early on-set appears related a genetic factor, and late on-set to the build up of amyloid plaques with neurofibrillary tangles.
• However, in a press release of 1/15/07, researchers have identified 3 genetic markers related to late on-set of Alzheimer’s disease.
• There appear to be several known risk factors: cardiac disease, diabetes are top of the list. Brain inflammation and strokes also appear to be risk factors.
• Cardiac risk factors appear to be related to elevated levels of homocystine. These high levels appear to be able to be reduced by increasing levels of folic acid along with vitamins B-12 and B-6. Folic acid needs to come from both dietary intake and supplements simultaneously to be effective.
• There also appears to be a connection between oxidative damage from free radicals that appear to build up in neurons causing loss of function. Research indicates that increased levels of dietary intake of antioxidant food is helpful in controlling damage from free radicals. Food rich in antioxidants are round red fruits, green vegetables, some beans, and nuts.
• The Nun Study indicates that physical, social, and mental activity are important in staving off the effects of Alzheimer’s disease.

Diagnosis:

• Early diagnosis leads to earlier treatment, but at this point in time, it won’t reverse the damage of Alzheimer’s Disease. Earlier treatment may, however, slow down the progression or delay the progression of the disease, allowing the patient to function independently for a longer period of time.
• Currently the diagnosis process includes neurological evaluation, and MRI or PET scans, as well as a behavioral interview. A newer diagnositic tool is the functional MRI or fMRI that images the brain and “lights up” the presence of amyloid plaque.
• Once the disease is diagnosed by a neurologist or geriatric medicine specialist, one’s regular family physician can often provide the ongoing treatment and monitor progress.

Treatment and Caregiving:

• It is important to “Maintain the Brain” by keeping mentally active, solving puzzles, learning new information, interacting with people, staying physically active.
• What is good for the heart is also good for the brain. It is important to watch your numbers: weight, blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
• It is important to manage stress for the direct caregiver
• And it is important to provide emotional interventions for the caregivers.

What is the Alzheimer’s Association doing?

• Currently they are pushing for shorter clinical trials, and bringing treatment to use faster.
• They are providing grants with neuroimaging initiatives to monitor progress of the disease and the impact of trial medications and treatments.
• Lobbying for more federal funding for research

Interesting factoids:

• There appears to be a lower incidence of Alzheimer’s disease in countries where there is an increase use of curry/tumeric
• African Americans and women have an increased incidence of Alzheimer’s disease voer the general population.
• It is harder to diagnose in the younger population
• 70% of the cases of dementia are caused by Alzheimer’s disease.