Newest Alzheimer’s Research Now Says Disease May be an Autoimmune Disorder

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caregiver-comforting-senior-ladyDiscovering a cure for Alzheimer’s disease has become as tangled as the tau threads that have long been considered to be the root cause of the disease. Yet now, research workers may be drawing one step nearer to untangling the mystery of Alzheimer’s disease by using another train of thought. The latest studies are leaning towards the potential of an inflammatory response in the brain, which raises the question: could Alzheimer’s disease really be an autoimmune disease?

Crohn’s disease, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis sufferers know all too well the repercussions of a hyperactive immune system. In a perfect world, our immunity shields us from viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens that need to be eliminated. With an autoimmune disease, however, antibodies attack non-invasive, healthy cells, generating inflammation and other unpleasant effects.

In earlier Alzheimer’s disease research, those infamous amyloid plaques have been the focus. Yet we also know that even in healthy brains, these plaques are present and are thought to carry out some form of helpful purpose. The immune system concentrates on these plaques, destroying them as well as potentially healthy cells in the process: suggestive of a potential autoimmune response.

This unconventional new strategy to researching and formulating treatment options for Alzheimer’s has earned lead author of the study, Don Weaver, MD, PhD, of the Krembil Brain Institute, the 2022 Oskar Fischer Prize, which “recognizes innovative ideas in Alzheimer’s research that look beyond prevailing theories.”

For the rest of us, it provides hope that a cure for the disease that impacts a multitude of people could be around the corner. Until then, turn to Generations at Home for compassionate, creative, and skilled Alzheimer’s care services that help those with Alzheimer’s disease continue to live to their fullest potential in the homes they love. Our caregivers are adept in helping those with dementia and the families who love them to better deal with some of the more disturbing aspects of the disease, such as:

  • Wandering and asking to go “home”
  • Agitation, aggression, and other difficult and strong emotions
  • Increased discomfort in the late afternoon and evening hours (sundowning)
  • Repetitive conversations and behaviors
  • Memory loss
  • And much more

We will work together with your family to provide as much or as little care as needed to provide you with the breaks from caregiving you need for your own health and wellness. After all, caring for a loved one with dementia is never a one-person undertaking, particularly as the disease progresses. Taking time away to care for yourself and to recharge is extremely important for you and your family as well as for the individual with dementia. A well-rested care provider is more patient and better prepared to supply the level of care a senior with dementia needs and deserves.

Call us at 727-940-3414 for additional helpful dementia care resources, and to arrange a free in-home consultation to learn more about how our dementia care experts can help improve quality of life for a person you love.

Promising Alzheimer’s Vaccine on the Rise

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If 2021 will be recalled as the year for COVID-19 vaccines, perhaps 2022 will be marked with a different type of life-changing vaccine: one which may actually slow or prevent the further advancement of Alzheimer’s disease. 

The first human trial of Protollin, delivered by way of nasal spray, is underway in 16 seniors with-early stage Alzheimer’s symptoms and who are between the ages of 60 and 85 years old. The predicted outcome will be to activate immune cells which will eliminate the beta-amyloid plaque thought to cause the disease.

Arriving on the heels of controversial results of Biogen’s Aduhelm, the first new approved drug for Alzheimer’s in decades, the stakes are high. Aduhelm is an antibody infusion that at first appeared to fail in its goal of improving memory and cognition functioning, leading Biogen to discontinue clinical trials. Yet several months later, there did seem to be a beneficial impact in a small group of participants, leading the FDA to approve its use – even though the outcomes are not definitively clear.

Identifying an effective preventative or treatment option is vitally important. The most current statistics show approximately 6 million Americans currently diagnosed with the disease. It is also among the leading causes of death in adults within the U.S., with a steep incline in mortality rate of 88% between 1999 and 2019. And that statistic may only be scratching the surface, as it represents only those clinically diagnosed. We know that those with cognitive impairment may struggle with receiving the correct diagnosis, and they often are challenged by other health issues as well.

Scientists are hopeful that Protollin, along with Aduhelm and other antibody drugs undergoing study, is positioning us on a promising path forward. Jeffrey Cummings, a University of Nevada, Las Vegas brain-science professor, goes as far as to say, “It just feels like we have turned a corner.” 

Our elder care experts are helping older adults with Alzheimer’s each day, and we excitedly look forward to a point in the future when the disease is defeated. Until then, we’re here for your needs with personalized, creative care in order to make life the very best it can be for those diagnosed with dementia. 

It’s vitally important for loved ones caring for a person with dementia to protect their own health by ensuring ample time for self-care. Our dementia care team can help you set up a schedule for regular time away – just as much or as little as you wish. We are skilled in effective management of many difficult effects of the disease, including wandering, aggression, agitation, sundowning, and many others.

Reach out to us at any time at 727-940-3414 for a free assessment to learn more. 

Advancements in Alzheimer’s Research Made in 2020

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Brain from wooden puzzles. Mental Health and problems with memory.With so much negative news in the forefront of 2020, it is worth reflecting on a number of the wonderful achievements the year brought – most notably the advancements in Alzheimer’s disease research. Katie McDonough, director of programs and services for the Alzheimer’s Association, shares, “There are many things that we’re learning and it’s an exciting time for Alzheimer’s research.”

The following are just a few of the milestones reached that are taking us ever nearer to a cure:

  • Identification of Alzheimer’s risk factors. Understanding the leading risk factors for dementia, such as excessive alcohol consumption, pollution, and traumatic brain injury (among others) is projected to lower cases of Alzheimer’s around the world up to 40%.
  • Falling rates of Alzheimer’s cases. For the past three decades, dementia diagnoses in North America and Europe have declined by 13% per decade – very likely due to changes in lifestyle.
  • Progress towards earlier diagnosis. The Early Detection of Neurodegenerative diseases initiative (EDoN) has been launched, wherein digital devices are now being developed to diagnosis dementia earlier – as early as 10 – 15 years before symptoms begin.
  • Greater focus on MCI. Mild cognitive impairment, or MCI, is now being evaluated more closely, making it possible for earlier strategy, diagnosis and treatment.
  • Dementia blood tests. Predictors for the potential risk of Alzheimer’s disease are becoming more sophisticated, and in a recently available study from Sweden, scientists identified blood-based proteins that predict future thinking and memory problems.
  • Review of antipsychotic prescription drugs. A recently available study conducted by the University College London uncovered an elevated rate for the prescription of antipsychotic medicines for those with dementia – likely from the increased need for delirium management along with agitation and anxiety from COVID-19 restrictions. These medications are recommended only when no alternative is available, and the reduction of their use is currently being further explored.
  • Artificial intelligence. At a faster pace and less expensive, a new AI solution is able to determine the form of proteins in the brain, helping medical researchers design medications that can help remove these proteins.
  • Aducanumab. The FDA accepted this promising drug in 2020 for a priority review process, meaning that sometime early in 2021, we should be finding out if it is approved for use within the general population.

At Generations at Home, we are committed to following the current research on dementia, as well as on providing the cutting-edge, highly skilled care that helps those diagnosed with dementia live to their greatest potential. Whether the need is for full-time care, or simply several hours every week for trusted respite services, reach out to us for an in-home assessment for more information on how we can help.

An Accidental Discovery Turned Into a Potential Parkinson’s Treatment

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Parkinson's disease on physicians tabletResearchers at the UC San Diego School of Medicine who believed they were analyzing connective tissue cell protein received quite a shock when they alternatively stumbled upon a therapy to eradicate the observable symptoms of Parkinson’s disease in mice. Not just that, but the treatment might be useful in various conditions that call for the need to replace damaged tissue: diabetes, spinal cord injuries, perhaps even heart problems.

The research centered on a siRNA technique, in which researchers grew fibroblasts (a kind of connective tissue cell) in petri dishes while silencing the protein PTB. After a few weeks, they were surprised to learn the majority of fibroblasts had converted into neurons.

Lead author of the study, Xiang-Dong Fu, explained, “Researchers around the world have tried many ways to generate neurons in the lab, using stem cells and other means, so we can study them better, as well as to use them to replace lost neurons in neurodegenerative diseases. The fact that we could produce so many neurons in such a relatively easy way came as a big surprise.”

The research team then decided to test their new theory on Parkinson’s disease in mice, finding that it completely restored movement and functionality for the remainder of the mice’s lifetime – even those with an advanced case of the disease.

Obviously, the process to figure out if these results transfer to humans will take time and extreme care to be certain of safety. Nonetheless, for individuals struggling due to the disease and other neurodegenerative conditions, it is cause for hope.

As Fu says, “It’s my dream to see this through to clinical trials, to test this approach as a Parkinson’s treatment but also many other diseases where neurons are lost, such as Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s diseases and stroke. And dreaming even bigger – what if we could target PTB to correct defects in other parts of the brain, to treat things like inherited brain defects?”

As we look forward to the next steps in this significant breakthrough, you can trust Generations at Home for professional, highly skilled home care for individuals with Parkinson’s disease. A few of the various ways we can help include:

  • Balanced meal planning and preparation
  • Light household chores
  • Shopping and other errands
  • Personal care, such as bathing/showering, getting dressed, etc.
  • Friendly companionship
  • Safe, accompanied transportation
  • And a whole lot more

To learn how we can help a senior you love with in-home care needs, reach out to us at 727-940-3414 and request a free in-home consultation.