Trial of Alzheimers Vaccine is SuccessfulSwedish researchers report the successful trial of a vaccine that helps individuals develop protective antibodies that can prevent progression of Alzheimer's disease.
Alzheimer's is a neurological dementia disease in which the body attacks itself destroying brain cells. The disease is on the upswing with the World Health Organization declaring that dementia is the fastest growing global health epidemic of our age.
The prevailing hypothesis about the origin of Alzheimer's involves APP (amyloid precursor protein), a protein that resides in the outer membrane of nerve cells. Instead of being normally decomposed, APP forms harmful beta-amyloid proteins, which accumulates as plaques and kills brain cells.
There is currently no cure for Alzheimer's disease, and the medicines in use can only mitigate the symptoms. In the hunt for a cure, scientists are following several avenues of attack, of which vaccination is currently the most popular.