the graph

THE GRAPH

this is the graph of alzheimers

this is the present theory of what happens in alzheimers
those who will get it will began to accumulate a substance
called beta amyloid in their early 40s

this beta amyloid is normally made in the body and is cleared out
from the brain without any problems
this theory will soon be tested this year and we will know if
it is accurate

in the 40s something happens and the drainage system doesnt
work right so the beta amyloid starts to accumulate years before
symptoms of alzheimers starts

as it accumulates brain cells start to get damaged

look at the graph between 40-65
go straight up to the amyloid line
the beta amyloid is starting to accumulate in larger and larger
numbers but
the person remains normal cognitively
no one the patient or family or friends or coworkers notice anything

its about this time that inflammation and cell damage occurs
tau protein becomes elevated as the nerve fibers get damaged

still no outward signs that anything is going on
its like cancer thats growing slowly without symptoms until
it reaches a point then symptoms start

then somewhere around 65 the beta amyloid has almost reached its
maximum accumulation
the destruction is accumulating
all of this is irreversible
then the early symptoms may start to show

it may be too late at this point as too much destruction has
happened and the dying of the brain cells cant be stopped

so for me if i have alzheimers
when i was 40 i finally finished my federal obligation and began
to practice family medicine in a large clinic north of here
i worked 40+ hours raised two sons and was physically active
bicycling and enjoying life

but look at the graph at 40-50
the amyloid was starting to accumulate
by the time i moved to the austin area at 50
it would be 50% accumulated
still no symptoms

then 10 years later
boom
abnormal neuropsych exam with no one noticing symptoms
diagnosis very early mild cognitive impariment (mci)
find that on the above graph
and at that point
theres 90% of the beta amyloid has accumulated
theres 60% of the inflammation and cell injury already occurring
damn it

what if in my 40s i could have a test that shows that im accumulating
this beta amyloid in my brain
what if they could give me something to take away all that beta amyloid
what if removing that beta amyloid would prevent that brain cell destruction

that what if may be today
there is a test called the amyvid pet scan that will identify the beta amyloid in the brain


then there is iv medicine that will be given to people in this situation where
i might have been in my 40s that will remove that beta amyloid from the brain

and hopefully none of the cell destruction will occur

thats where we are headed folks and its getting closer

two large studies are using iv anitbodies against beta amyloid on individuals
in their 30s and 40s that are genetically predestined to get alzheimers in
their 40s and early 50s

their graph is shifted to the left by 20-30 years
my younger brothers graph is shifted 20 years to the left
my graph if i have this disease is shifted probably 10-15 years
my mothers graph would have looked like this one

those in the studies will be given this stuff now before the beta amyloid
accumulaton starts on that uphill curve that you see on that graph above
it will flatten out the curve by removing the beta amyloid as its produced
hopefully stopping the development of alzheimers

so if it all works i could have an amyvid pet scan and if im loaded with a
beta amyloid in the brain unless things have advanced too far
i could get those iv antibodies that bind to the beta amyloid and remove it
my course of this disease could be significantly altered

wow what if this could happen

the organicgreen doctor