What is Alzheimer's Disease?

Alzheimer’s Latest News

A new drug, Gantenerumab, shows promise in slowing early-onset Alzheimer’s while significantly reducing amyloid plaque buildup, a key marker of the disease.

About Alzheimer’s

• Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects memory, thinking, and reasoning abilities.
• It is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for 60-80% of all dementia cases worldwide.
• The disease disrupts communication between brain cells, leading to a decline in cognitive and functional abilities.

What is Early-Onset Alzheimer’s?

• Most cases of Alzheimer’s occur in individuals aged 65 or older, but around 5-10% of cases develop before this age—this is called Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease (EOAD).
• Unlike late-onset Alzheimer’s, EOAD progresses more rapidly and often affects people in their prime working years, making it particularly devastating.
• Genetic factors play a crucial role in early-onset cases, with mutations in three specific genes—APP, PSEN1, and PSEN2—linked to increased risk.
• The Role of Amyloid Beta and Plaque Formation: The buildup of amyloid beta proteins in the brain leads to the formation of amyloid plaques, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease.
• These plaques disrupt neural communication, trigger inflammation, and eventually lead to brain cell death.
• Amyloid-targeting therapies aim to reduce these plaques, potentially slowing disease progression.

About Gantenerumab

• Gantenerumab is an experimental drug that was initially discontinued but has now shown promise in new clinical trials.
• The latest trial focused on patients with genetic mutations known to cause early-onset Alzheimer’s.
• It was a randomized, placebo-controlled study, tracking disease progression using brain imaging and blood biomarkers.
• Results showed a significant reduction in amyloid plaque buildup, suggesting the drug may slow cognitive decline.

How Does Gantenerumab Work?

• It is a monoclonal antibody, meaning it is lab-engineered to specifically target amyloid beta proteins.
• Once attached to amyloid plaques, it signals the immune system to break them down and remove them from the brain.
• The drug activates microglial cells, which act as the brain’s primary immune defenders, to clear toxic proteins more efficiently.
• A major challenge in treating neurological diseases is the blood-brain barrier, which blocks many drugs from reaching the brain.
• Gantenerumab can cross this barrier, making it more effective than some previous Alzheimer’s treatments.

Alzheimer’s FAQs

Q1: What is Alzheimer’s disease?
Ans: Alzheimer’s is a neurodegenerative disorder that leads to progressive memory loss, cognitive decline, and behavioral changes due to brain cell damage.

Q2: What causes Alzheimer’s disease?
Ans: The exact cause is unknown, but it is associated with the accumulation of beta-amyloid plaques and tau protein tangles in the brain, along with genetic and environmental factors.

Q3: What are the symptoms of Alzheimer’s?
Ans: Early symptoms include memory loss, confusion, difficulty in problem-solving, and language impairment, which progressively worsen over time.

Q4: Is there a cure for Alzheimer’s?
Ans: No, there is no cure yet, but medications like Donepezil and lifestyle modifications can help manage symptoms and slow disease progression.

Q5: How can Alzheimer’s be prevented?
Ans: While prevention is not guaranteed, regular exercise, a healthy diet, mental stimulation, and social engagement may help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s.

Source: DTE