Cure for Alzheimer’s Disease?

Alzheimer’s disease is one of the terrible conditions which give hard times to both patients and doctors, as there is no actual medication that can cure it. New research in the field proves that there is a glitter of hope, as finding a cure for Alzheimer’s disease might not turn to be an impossible mission.

The Scientific American questioned a specialist on this matter and introduced the question and answer in the magazine series called “20 Big Questions about the Future of Humanity.” Here is what Doctor Reisa Sperling replied:

“I am not sure if there will be a cure, per se, but I am very hopeful that there will be a successful disease-modifying therapy for Alzheimer’s disease within the next decade. We have now started prevention trials that are testing biological interventions even before people show clinical symptoms of the disease.”

Even if it is not a proper cure for Alzheimer’s, a therapy that would slow the disease’s effects is still an important step forward. Neurologist Reisa Sperling thinks, as well as other doctors, that delaying the disease could be the solution to many problems, as it would gain patients more time.

Moreover, a specialized clinic in Sacramento has already begun a trial, administrating patients a treatment which doctors expect to prevent the disease from advancing or to slow it down. Some of the patients started the therapy more than three years ago.

Doctors at Sacramento’s Sutter Neuroscience say it is too soon to talk about the effectiveness of the treatment, but they hope for the best and are quite positive about the outcome.

Dr. John Olichney (University of California) is also confident about the times to come, which will bring, if not a cure for Alzheimer’s, at least significant improvements, as he declares:

“We’re entering a new era where we are very close to having the first proven disease-modifying therapy. It’s taken an awful lot of work for the last decade, but we think it’s slowing down the progression of the disease.”

Alzheimer’s disease damages brain cells, and it is a pre-phase of dementia.  It often leads to the death of the patient, as it is in the top ten causes of death in the United States. Alzheimer’s disease is common with older people, aged more than 60.

Fortunately, doctors have strong reasons to believe that there is a brighter future for us all.

Image source: Wikipedia