Up until now, drug therapies have been the main focus of treating symptoms of Alzheimer’s. But revolutionary new research out of Australia has found an entirely different method that can fully restore memory loss in mice, offering hope for humans living with, and dying from, this devastating disease.
Thanks to a research team from the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) at the University of Queensland, a non-invasive ultrasound test called focused therapeutic ultrasound has been shown to activate microglia cells – the waste removal cells of the brain – to break apart and clear away clumps of toxic beta-amyloid plaque. This plaque is thought to cause the worst Alzheimer’s symptoms, in conjunction with neurofibrillary tangles – tiny filaments that become twisted, preventing essential nutrients and other materials from getting through. The effect is similar to twisting a vacuum cleaner tube, preventing it from allowing particles through.
The results have been nothing short of miraculous, with a full 75% of the mice tested completely recovering previously lost memory – with no damage to surrounding brain tissue. The mice’s performance improved in three separate memory tests: a maze, recognition of objects, and remembering areas to avoid.
In the next 10 years, the number of Americans age 65 and older with Alzheimer’s will grow by 40 percent, estimated to reach up to 7.1 million, up from 5.3 million today, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. Other facts from AA: “One in three seniors dies from Alzheimer’s. It’s the only cause of death in the top 10 that can’t be prevented, cured, or slowed.”
For Alzheimer’s patients, their caregivers and loved ones, the possibility of memory restoration is a dream come true, and one that may be realized sooner than we had ever expected. Clinical trials in humans are set to begin as early as 2017.
To learn more about this study and its findings, visit Science Alert’s website. You can also hear an ABC Radio interview with the research team here.
For now, there’s hope and help from Live Free Home Health Care for those facing the daily challenges of Alzheimer’s or their caregivers. Our home care services in Central New Hampshire and the Lakes Region provide caregivers specially trained by a Certified Dementia Practitioner.
Contact us today by phone at 603-217-0149 or through our online contact form to find out more about Live Free Home Health Care’s specialized care for loved ones with Alzheimer’s or dementia and to schedule a free in-home assessment. Together, we can help patients and their caregivers navigate the rough waters of Alzheimer’s and dementia.