Alzheimer’s Breakthrough
Published: January 12, 2005
We’ve all heard how Alzheimer’s disease robs people of their memory.
It also robs them of their ability to learn and to make judgements.
Now, there’s a cutting edge therapy that could change the course of the disease.
There are medications that treat Alzheimer’s symptoms such as hallucinations, anxiety and agitation.
Now, a one-of-a-kink therapy goes after the cause — in hopes of a cure.
Each year, more than four million Americans will be told they have Alzheimer’s disease.
“This was before the surgery here,” says Neurologist Zoe Arvanitakis.
Dr. Arvanitakis says we’ve made an impact on the disease, but more is needed, “There are several FDA approved medications to treat Alzheimer’s disease, so they help with the symptoms of the disease, but they don’t seem to change the underlying course of the disease.”
Researchers from Rush University hope to do just that.
“We’re going after something completly new and using a very novel method as well,” says Dr. Arvanitakis.
It’s called gene transfer. It uses the drug Cere 110 to send growth factors deep into the brain.
“The issue up until now has been how to safely and effectively deliver nerve growth factors to the brain,” says Dr. Arvanitakis.
Now, using very thin needles, surgeons injuct the drug into the area of the brain that deteriorates very early on in Alzheimer’s.
“…very similar things to what you did last time…” the doctor says during a test.
Ron Shellady and his wife Sue knew they needed to act fast when Ron got his diagnosis.
“I didn’t want to get any worse. And I, you know, talked to Suzy about it, and I basically says, ‘I don’t care. I’ll do anything,’” says Ron.
And he did. Last July, he was the first patient in the world to receive this new drug.
“He’s always been kind-of number one,” says his wife Sue.
“I like to win. There’s no fun in losing,” says Ron.
Since the treatment, Ron says he’s no longer losing his memory, but only time will tell how effective the treatment really is.
“It’s easier now not to forget, yes, I would say that’s true. I pay more attention. I’m more attentive to things that I have, that I know I have to pay attention to,” Ron says.
With six grandkids, he’ll have a lot to keep his eyes and his mind on.
Rush University in Chicago is the only center in the world doing this research.
To take part in the trial, patients must be between 50 and 80 years old in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.
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