In this blog, I will be sharing the results of my new research question, which is “Is there any treatment for one of the most popular diseases, Alzheimer’s, that would save thousands of lives worldwide?”. Before jumping to the results, let’s take a look at what Alzheimer’s disease is, why it is so important to prevent and treat it, its symptoms and diagnosis techniques.
What is Alzheimer’s?
Alzheimer’s is a type of neurodegenerative disease and most common form of dementia (60-70 % of cases). It is one of the most significant and important diseases for humankind. This is because of the fact that it erodes cognitive abilities, impacts memory, language and reasoning skills, leading to loss of independence. As a result, individuals experience emotional difficulties and challenges in social situations. In 2020, there were approximately 50 million people worldwide with Alzheimer’s disease and it most often begins in people 65 years old or above. On top of impacting individuals and families through being a burden for them, Alzheimer’s disease also has a remarkable effect on economy. According to the new USC-led research, the total economic burden of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias in the United States of America will reach approximately $781 billion this year, making Alzheimer’s prevention and treatment even more significant.
Symptoms and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s
Symptoms of Alzheimer’s are usually well-known by the public, which includes forgetting about recent conversations or events, misplacing items, forgetting names of objects or places, having trouble remembering the right word when talking and finding it harder to make decisions. Cognitive tests (such as MMSE- Mini Mental State Exam and MoCA) as well as PET scans for amyloid plaques or tau tangles ( which will be explained later on) are used to confirm Alzheimer’s. Here are the PET scans of a normal brain and the brain of an Alzheimer’s patient.
ACU193, the novel treatment for Alzheimer’s
First of all, let’s see what causes Alzheimer’s disease. Inside brain cells, there is a large protein called amyloid precursor protein (APP). Enzymes, such as beta-secretase and gamma-secretase break down APP into smaller substances, which includes amyloid beta. In some cases, amyloid beta fragments (usually a sticky version of amyloid beta 42) can clump together,forming small clusters called oligomers which stick together to form larger clumps, called tau plaques that get deposited outside neurons and block intercellular communication, leading to neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia, which includes Alzheimer’s.
How does ACU193 help prevent Alzheimer’s?
ACU193 is a type of antibody that targets amyloid beta oligomers. It binds to amyloid beta oligomers ( known as the early stage of a plaque) and prevents them from attaching to neurons. And since they can not stick together, larger plaques are less likely to form. The graph below shows the effects of ACU193 and ACU3B3 on a patient’s brain.
Conclusion: How is ACU193 better than other medications for Alzheimer’s?
Most of the medications created for treating this disease mainly focus on destroying or eliminating the existing plates. However, this is not always efficient and it may be too late. ACU193 on the other hand, intervene earlier at the stage where the danger acytually starts, making it more efficient and reliable.
Personal Reflection
Through conducting researches and writing this tekst, I learned how Alzheimer’s disease can affect patients’ and other peoples’ lives, why it happens and a way to treat and prevent it. I improved my ability to summarise important information clearly and had the chance to learn more about a disease and a field I am interested in. One challenge I faced was finding reliable sources, as there is not a lot of information about the treatment, since it has just started to become popular. I felt proud of the final result because I worked hard and learned a lot during the process.