Shutting Down Alzheimer's

As widespread as Alzheimer's has become in the elderly community, there is very little known about how it develops. What is known is that its has to with a plaque build up of a small protein called A-beta. The question is whether A-beta actually causes the disease or the disease causes A-beta residue from its activity, but the trend in research is pointing toward the first theory.



A-beta has been targeted in several studies and the findings show that if it is limited, so is the effects of the disease. There are two ways that A-beta is being dealt with, directly and at its origins. A-beta is part of a larger protein called Amyloidbeta (APP) that is cleave by two different enzymes called beta-secretase & gamma-secretase. The first of two  medications in trial stages, blocks the gamma-secretase so it doesn't cut the APP and cause the A-beta debry to build up. The second medication builds up immunity against the A-beta by slowly injecting it into the body and having the immune system get use to it as a foreigner & attacking it.

I find this article extremely relevant to today's society. There are so many seniors with Alzheimer's or some form of dimensia that creates barriers between themselves and their family, when they are in a lonely stage of life to begin with. Just as keeping an active lifestyle improves physical health, I believe that staying mentally active is the best way to prevent the on coming of this disease. Hopefully modern science will eventually find a safe way to prevent the disease as well.