There have plenty of intriguing developments in the world of neuroscience and neurology over the past year, including the practical aspects of brain-related issues such as Alzheimer’s disease.
There were plenty of encouraging reports and developments in the treatment of Alzheimer’s recently, with these new approaches still very much in their infancy.
These signs have indicated that there could be ways to slow the disease and, more importantly, reverse the impact of Alzheimer’s on the brain. So what else has neuroscience uncovered recently? Here are some of the most significant milestones…
Existing Drugs Benefiting Alzheimer’s Patients
There are two existing drugs that have been trialed to see what impact they can have on Alzheimer’s disease, with reversing affects evident in some patients. One of these existing drugs, levetiracetam, is used to treat epilepsy and was found to restore memory and normal brain functions in patients suffering from amnestic mild cognitive impairment.
This is believed to be an early indication of Alzheimer’s disease. The trials showed improved performance in the human brain, which is encouraging. The other drug in question, AZD05030, was meant to treat cancer but did not pass the clinical trials.
It has surprisingly become a potential Alzheimer’s treatment option as it restores brain cell connections and memory. It has yet to be tested in clinical trials on humans.
Overcoming the Blood-Brain Barrier Dilemma
Specific drug delivery to the site of the body that is being affected has always been a difficult task for pharmaceutical scientists to overcome, yet it is still a highly desirable cause. 98% of the drugs we use in the modern era are not able to get through the blood-brain barrier as the brain is particularly difficult to target selectively.
There is however, a rather futuristic theory currently in question that has been unearthed by scientists based in Canada. Magnetic nanoparticles created by an MRI machine vibrate and dissipate heat, creating a mechanical stress.
Canadian researchers believe that the radio-frequency waves created could potentially be used to open the blood-brain barrier with the help of this mechanical stress, which would mean we could deliver blood-circulating therapeutics directly into the brain.
It is potentially a highly promising achievement that has only yet been tested on animals. It could be the futuristic answer to treating brain disorders in future.
Activating Microglial Cells with the Help of Ultrasound
The university of Queensland, Australia has brought one of the most intriguing topics of all over the last few months. Researchers at the university have discovered and developed an ultrasound method to activate microglial cells non-invasively.
This is another form of treatment capable of opening the tricky blood-brain barrier and allowing for mechanism to get rid of the toxic protein agglomerates from the brain. Mice with Alzheimer’s disease were treated and healthy memory levels were restored.
This is probably the most exciting of all treatments currently in the works and, should the tests work on humans, we could have quite a substantial breakthrough in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s has been at the forefront of neuroscientific research and discovery over the past year as we look to solve the desperate puzzle of improving quality of life in those struggling with the disease.
With such significant advances like those mentioned above, the outlook for treating a condition that has plagued society for decades looks far more reassuring.
Article provided by Mike James, working together with Think Change Consulting; a company established in 2012 and specialising in applying the latest neuroscience to change management, leadership management and learning development.