Treatment For Alzheimer’s: New Research And Approved Drugs
For Alzheimer’s disease we have many theories on causes and different prevention techniques and lifestyle tips that might help us delay the onset of the disease, including brain training games, healthy lifestyle that includes exercise and diet and many others. Treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, however, doesn’t exist as of yet but every day new discoveries and innovations are made in order to come close to developing a cure for the disease. Some end up being more successful than others. In the end, however, we still do not have anything that works as a cure on humans, but we are moving forward with the research on other non-human animals and are trying to see what works with them.
Treatment For Alzheimer’s: Protein Injections In Mice Seem Promising
Just recently scientists had discovered a protein that decreased the symptoms of Alzheimer’s in mice. Researchers are hoping to start on human trials first but they realize that in order to create a proper clinical trial they will need a lot more time and many years will pass before we will actually know the result of this natural protein injection on humans diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Despite the fact that we might have to wait for the results, the research seems very promising. In fact, the special mice that was used in the experiment, had the same brain areas affected as those with Alzheimer’s disease. And after the protein injection the cognitive activity and function improved to the cognitive function of regular mice within a week. Such a result is very promising in the current research against Alzheimer’s.
Treatment for Alzheimer’s is looking into new horizons, and new technologies and research are being implemented on a daily basis in order to come up with a cure. At the moment, there are different drugs that have been approved as a treatment for Alzheimer’s. Of course, they do not cure the disease completely but does manage certain symptoms.
Approved Drugs
According to Alzheimer’s Association there are two types of drugs that are being developed nowadays. One type of these drugs inhibits the breakdown of acetylcholine or Ach, one of the major neurotransmitters in the nervous system that is highly active and vital for memory and learning. By stopping the breakdown of this neurotransmitter, the drug makes sure to have a lot of acetylcholine which then increases nerve cell communication. This type of drug is useful in decreasing the symptoms for about a half year to a year in those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and isn’t very big on side effects, however, some may experience loss of appetite, vomiting and nausea etc.
The second type of drugs is called memantine and it is prescribed for increasing attention, language, memory, reason and the ability to perform simple tasks. Some combine this drug with the cholinesterase inhibitor (the one described before.) Memantine works with glutamate which is the major excitatory neurotransmitter of the central nervous system. It is involved with memory and learning and the drug gets rid of the symptoms for a time in certain people, however, it does cause side effects including dizziness, confusion, headache and constipation.
There are many other line of treatments that are available and that are being developed and many of those can decrease the symptoms of Alzheimer’s temporarily and are worth considering before the actual cure for the disease is found.
Valerie is a psychology student who is trying to pursue a career in Cognitive Neuroscience. She is passionate about the brain and finds it fascinating. She loves learning about new discoveries and research that is going on in the world of psychology and neuroscience. One day she hopes to contribute to the scientific community!
