Alzheimer’s Vaccine to Cut Cases in Half

By Elizabeth Nelson

Alzheimer’s is an epidemic in our world today, and the number of cases is expected to increase dramatically in the coming years. 5.7 million Americans suffer from the disease currently, and there may be double that number by 2050, according to the University of Texas. In an effort to keep that from happening, experts have been working on treatments and preventative methods for the disease for decades. And this time, they think they may actually have found the answer.

A team of researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center has concocted a vaccine they believe will prevent Alzheimer’s cases, effectively cutting the number of cases of dementia in half. So far, the vaccine has shown promise in animal testing, safely producing antibodies to guard against the buildup of unwanted amyloid and tau proteins in the brains of mice, rabbits, and monkeys. The researchers’ findings have been published in the journal Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy.

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The team hopes their vaccine will soon be able to move on to human trials. And if it’s successful there, it will quickly move on to production and be placed on the market, where it will be useful to millions of people wishing to stave off dementia.  

This study marks a significant progress toward a safe and successful method of Alzheimer’s prevention, and it’s the first of its kind to be this effective without any noticeable side effects, such as brain inflammation. Even if the vaccine isn’t fully effective in preventing Alzheimer’s, it might at least be useful for staving off the disease for a short time.

“If the onset of the disease could be delayed by even five years, that would be enormous for the patients and their families,” said Doris Lambracht-Washington, a professor of neurology and neurotherapeutics at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

Photo: Adobe Stock/sudok1

Of course, this vaccine won’t get rid of dementia entirely, even if it’s fully successful. Dementia is simply the broad description for the symptoms of cognitive decline, but there are many causes. Alzheimer’s disease is only one of those causes, which accounts for about half of dementia cases.

However, even small steps in the right direction are more than we’ve had in the past and offer immense hope for the future. We hope this team has great success with their vaccine and is able to make it available to the public soon!

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Alzheimer’s Vaccine to Cut Cases in Half

Alzheimer's vaccine shows promise

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(3TV/CBS 5) − Alzheimer's disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the US and researchers are fighting the clock as the baby boomer population ages. This is why news of a possible Alzheimer's vaccine is so exciting.

The drug is called aducanumab. It's one of the first drugs showing real promise in the ongoing fight to get this disease under control.

Dr. Anna Burke, director of neuropsychiatry and Alzheimer’s expert at Barrow Neurological Institute explained the drug.

"Rather than teaching your body to create antibodies against amyloid plaque, this is an antibody that has already been created that gets injected directly into the veins," said Burke. "It is meant to latch on to the amyloid plaque and to dissolve it."

Burke said the idea is to dissolve the plaque which is the hallmark of Alzheimer's and hopefully slow or stop the disease in its tracks.

She said in the past, they've had drugs that have had similar effects on the plaque but this is the first time they've actually seen behavioral changes and improved cognitive function in patients using the medication.

Signs of Alzheimer's develop up to 20 years before any symptoms appear, so she says moving forward much of the research will focus on preventative medications in place for people at high risk of developing the disease.

"If we can identify these people at a younger age certainly we'll be able to use these therapies before they ever develop symptoms," she said.

While there's no definite way to prevent this disease altogether, Burke said you can give yourself a better chance of avoiding it by eating a Mediterranean diet, getting regular exercise, playing brain games, and having an active social life.

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Alzheimer's vaccine shows promise