tytw

TYTW

the year that was
in alzheimers disease research 2012

the following is my review from the
alzheimers disease information networks (adin) 
january monthly e newsletter
from the alzheimers disease cooperative study

the study im in the alzheimers disease neuroimaging initiative
adni-2 is part of this cooperative study
much of the data from this study is used in the reported studies

i am in the early mild cognitive group and have had serial
neuropsychological exams, blood tests, blood biomarkers,
genetic tests, whole human genome analysis, spinal tap fluid
tests for beta amyloid and tau protein, volumetric mris,
pet scans for glucose metabolism, and pet scans for
beta amyloid

four genes are known to be associated with late onset
alzheimers disease-the apoe 4 genotype is the one that carries
the largest risk for the disease
thats the one i have with the double version
new ones found that have letters in their names are ms4a, cd2ap,
cd33, abca7, epah7

a new gene trem2 was discovered that causes you to be susceptible
to alzheimers disease

all are being looked at closely as they may be the site for treatment
one day

an international group of researchers are starting a preventative study
on a large group of people who carry the gene for early onset
alzheimers disease who are young and in their 30s to see if a new
drug can prevent them from getting alzheimers disease
this gene causes most of them to get in in their 40s
if it works this is important
youll be able to treat people who will get the disease before
symptoms start

a new gene mutation was discovered this year called the app gene
amyloid precursor protein gene mutation
if you have this gene mutation it prevents you from getting alzheimers

this gene is located on the 21st chromosome
downs syndrome patients have three 21st chromosomes instead of two
if they carry the app gene without the mutation they have a 50%
increase in the chance of getting alzheimers disease

if the extra 21st chromosome they inherit doesnt have the app gene
they dont get alzheimers

the new alzheimers vaccine studies results were back and were
mostly disappointing
however there was a subset group that showed that the drug did remove
beta amyloid from the brain and it was found in the spinal fluid

(in alzheimers disease the beta amyoid levels decrease in the
spinal fluid as the disease progresses as the beta amyloid gets deposited
in the brain)

a segment of these patients showed an improvement on their
cognitive or mental status tests

a new study looking at this particular group is starting this year

(my theory is that we are trying these things in folks who are more
advanced and the likelihood of them working are decreased
think advanced cancer vs very early cancer)

(this is why the study mentioned above is so important as its
using the drug in folks who dont have the disease yet)

then one of the most important events was the release of the
new amyvid pet scan for beta amyloid
(beta amyloid is thought to be the product that get deposited in
the brain that is thought to be the end result of the alzheimer
disease process. the theory is if you got a lot of this stuff in
your brain youve got alzheimers)

ive had one of these beta amyloid pet scans and have one
scheduled in april of this year
however i dont ever get to see the results of these scans
so if i want to know if ive got beta amyloid upstairs
i will have to have it done in the private world

this folks i plan on doing this year
i want to know all i can about where im at

so
yes folks
there is
hope for the future

the organicgreen doctor