Advances in Alzheimer's Research

Scientists have not yet found the cure for Alzheimer's, but they are making great strides toward understanding the disease better. Recent studies have also found that many methods of prevention may decrease a person's risk of developing Alzheimer's.

Diagnosis

• Scientists are currently making strides toward being able to diagnose Alzheimer's disease in the living brain. Currently, it can only be diagnosed with certainty in an autopsy. Scientists hope to be able to diagnose it using positron emission tomography (PET) along with injection of Pittsburgh compound B (PIB), a radioactive dye, the Alzheimer's Association says.

Prevention

• Minimizing your intake of saturated fats, and eating plenty of antioxidants like vitamins C and E, can help to prevent Alzheimer's, says the Alzheimer's Research and Prevention Foundation. Their website offers an outline of an ideal diet for brain health. "Superfoods" such as spinach and blueberries help in prevention.

  As Catharine Paddock says in "Loneliness in Old Age Linked to Alzheimer's," having a strong social network makes someone half as likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer's. According to the study she discusses, "negative" emotions such as sadness, loneliness and depression lower a brain's resistance to Alzheimer's. People who have a number of close friends whom they confide in, and people who participate in social activities often, seem to be less likely to develop Alzheimer's. Having a spouse or partner can also greatly lower one's risk. Scientists do not know exactly why, but further studies are being conducted to find out.

Treatments

• Scientists have not yet found a cure for Alzheimer's, but medical treatments as well as other forms of treatment can help to slow its progression. Alzheimer's affects how many people feel and behave, as well as their cognitive abilities, as the Alzheimer's Association says. It can cause people to become irritated, restless, angry, or distressed in other ways. It may cause hallucinations or delusions as well. The Alzheimer's Association stresses that non-drug methods should be tried first to help an Alzheimer's patient cope with his symptoms. Such treatments may include modifying his environment to minimize the causes of the stress, and determining whether a physical condition is causing the stress. The Alzheimer's Association offers many other suggestions for helping the Alzheimer's patient to cope with these symptoms. If a doctor determines that medication is necessary, a number of antidepressents, antiolytics and antipsychotic medications such as Celexa, Prozac, Ativan and Zyprexa are available, which must be used at a doctor's discretion.

  Currently, the Alzheimer's Association says, two types of drugs can be used to treat cognitive symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. Cholinesterase inhibitors can be used to stop the breakdown of acetylcholine, which is a chemical messenger central to memory and learning. It typically delays the progression of symptoms for six to 12 months, and possibly longer for some people. The medication memantine (under the brand Namenda) regulates glutamate, also a chemical messenger central to learning and memory. In 2003, memantine was approved for this purpose. (No other drugs have been approved to treat moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease.) Although experts don't agree on how long it delays the progression of symptoms, many feel its effect is similar to that of cholinesterase.

  Vitamin E can also be used as a treatment, although it can interfere with other medications and should be used only according to a doctor's orders. As an antioxidant, it may help to keep nerve cells healthy.

  Alternative treatments may benefit many Alzheimer's patients as well, but they should be taken only with approval from a doctor. A patient might also consult with a good homeopath for advice about these treatments, as well as her physician. According to the Alzheimer's Association, studies have linked consumption of high levels of omega-3 fatty acids with a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. Some people believe that gingko biloba also slows memory loss. Scientists are also currently studying a lipid called phosphatidylserine, which makes up the membranes surrounding nerve cells, to learn whether it can be used as a viable treatment.

Results of Recent Studies

• In 2007, scientists made great progress in understanding Alzheimer's disease, as outlined in a report by the Alzheimer's Association. Variations in the SORL1 gene were associated with Alzheimer's in a study published on January 14 in Nature Genetics, as the Alzheimer's Association says. This gene creates the blueprint for the proteins responsible for transporting amyloid precursor protein throughout brain cells.

  In another study, scientists found that mice with Alzheimer's disease can better learn if they are given extra learning sessions. In February, a study published in an Archives of General Psychiatry article found that loneliness increases the risk of developing Alzheimer's. In May, scientists found that if levels of the protein called tau are reduced in mice, it stops memory loss from happening. Lowering the level of beta-amyloid in the blood may also be a way of treating the disease.

  In other studies, scientists found that staying mentally active and minimizing stress, as well as (for women) getting enough sleep, can reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's. High blood pressure is thought to increase the rate of decline for individuals with Alzheimer's. At the end of 2007, the American Psychiatric Association introduced new guidelines for doctors of Alzheimer patients, such as limiting the use of antipsychotic drugs, which can increase the risk of death. For further information on studies published in 2007, see the time line on the Alzheimer's Association website, in the References section.

Conclusion

• Although the cure has not yet been found, much funding has been allotted to studying the causes and treatments of Alzheimer's disease, and the results of recent studies are promising. Furthermore, evidence that a number of prevention methods, like those mentioned, can greatly lower one's risk of developing Alzheimer's. Many of these methods, such as lowering stress, having a regular sleep schedule and staying mentally as well as physically active, can benefit a person of any age in many ways, in addition to lowering the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.