Potential Breakthrough for Alzheimer’s Disease
Published: October 27, 2004
Four and a half million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s Disease, and the problem will get worse as the population ages.
Current medicines treat some of the symptoms. But they can’t stop the memory loss that Sue Shellady first noticed two and a half years ago in her husband Ron.
“One of the most serious things that I knew there was a problem was when our last grandchild was born, and he forgot her name.”
Sue and Ron joined doctors at Rush University Medical Center to talk about an experimental gene therapy Ron received in July.
Dr. Roy Bakay, neurosurgeon said, “What we have to do is place a needle deep into the brain right almost down to the base of the brain in order to do our injections.”
Bokay uses MRI scans to locate the damaged brain cells, then injects them with a strand of human DNA designed to restore those cells to health.
An earlier study, using a less sophisticated technique, showed dramatic results.
“The degree of progression of decline decreased by 30 to 50% in those patients.”
The current study tests the drug’s safety, not how well it works. But Ron already thinks he’s seen a difference. “I used to lay something down there, walk away, and where in the hell did I put that. And now I can pick it up in the same spot. I guess that’s the best way I can tell you.”
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