Can we cure Alzheimer's?

An estimated 5.7 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer's disease, yet we still don't have a cure for it. It is most common in people 65 years and up, and is the most common form of dementia. An estimated 10% of people over 65 are affected, as well as 32% of people over 85. The disease attacks the hippocampus, where memory is stored. It begins with an initial impairment in episodic memory that worsens over time.

There are currently no successfully established preventative measures, and no known cure yet. This is where research comes in. There are a ton of ongoing Alzheimer's clinical trials, most of which are drug trials. The hallmark sign of Alzheimer's disease is a buildup of amyloid beta plaques in the brain and cerebrospinal fluid, resulting in gaps between the gyri of the brain.

There are some genetic risk factors, but less than 10% of cases are believed to be inherited. Dr. Roy's research utilizes the CRISPR/Cas9 method, which targets the editing mechanism of DNA, altering the proteins produced as a result and modulating the production of beta-amyloids. Although most cases of Alzheimer's are not believed to be caused by inherited genetics, our body is constantly replicating DNA and creating new cells. At any point in the replication process there is opportunity for mutation which could lead to Alzheimer's disease. This CRISPR/Cas9 method can edit mutations due to genome copying and maintenance.

Recent clinical drug trials do offer some hope as well. In the past, most of these trials utilized drugs reducing proteins in the brain, but these have mostly failed. This did however open the door to potential new forms of treatment, as scientists begin to dig deeper into other ways to target this mechanism. A meta-analysis of dementia-related diseases published in Human Molecular Genetics showed that inflammation could be a likely cause of dementia symptoms. Inflammation occurs prior to tissue damage and cell death, and genes linked to dementia also regulate the inflammatory response. Inflammation has phases, so it is protective early on but if it is persistent it can cause cell death. Gene mutation can cause these regulatory systems to fail earlier and more often, especially as we age because we obviously undergo more gene mutation the longer we live. Genetic regulatory mechanisms like Dr. Roy's could be useful in targeting this issue, or further research could be done into using existing anti-inflammatory drugs as a possible preventative measure.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/05/180502104103.htm