robs millions of older people of their memories and independence. In the past few years, medicines have helped improve the lives of patients. Further advances could help keep patients out of hospitals and nursing homes and make life easier for them and their families.
Disease: Alzheimer's disease
Last update: June 2008
Intro
FAQ: What can be done about it?
There is currently no cure for Alzheimer's. However, in the last five years, agents which prevent the breakdown of an important messenger molecule in the brain have been introduced and have been shown to improve the lives of 10-30% of patients.
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What is it?
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive brain disorder. Protein deposited in and around brain cells prevents them from working, brain tissue is lost and, in advanced cases, the brain actually shrinks.
Alzheimer's accounts for 55% of all cases of dementia, and results in patients exhibiting a variety of distressing symptoms including short-term memory loss, poor concentration, difficulty in finding words and understanding other people, difficulty in understanding where they are, mood changes and emotional upsets. Ultimately, the personality is lost and dependency results. -
Who gets it?
In Europe, dementia affects as many as 5% of people over 65, rising to about a third of those in their late 80s. With the aging population, the number is expected to rise significantly. -
What can be done about it?
There is currently no cure for Alzheimer's. However, in the last five years, agents which prevent the breakdown of an important messenger molecule in the brain have been introduced and have been shown to improve the lives of 10-30% of patients. -
What does the future hold?
Many areas of research are underway to combat Alzheimer's. Further messenger inhibitors are in the pipeline. Agents that promote nerve-cell repair, or reduce nerve-cell damage are of therapeutic interest, as are inhibitors of the process which leads to the characteristic protein deposits in the brain.
Research is also underway on the role of the molecules that transmit messages inside the brain, and on factors that may help nerves regenerate.