October 30, 2009

Ask Dr. H Column: Cure For Alzheimer’s Disease May Inflame The Situation

By Kelley Luckstein

Q: Is there any cure for Alzheimer's disease on the horizon? D.W., New York, N.Y.

A: At present, there is no cure for Alzheimer's disease and no way to stop its progression. FDA-approved medications like Aricept and Exelon can only temporarily slow the progressive memory loss of Alzheimer's disease.

An exciting piece of cutting-edge research from the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., may one day lead to a treatment that can reverse the brain damage of Alzheimer's disease, as well treat as other neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson's disease.

In a surprising reversal of conventional teaching, researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville have discovered that inflammation in the brain is not the trigger that leads to the buildup of amyloid (protein) plaque deposits the hallmark of Alzheimer's disease.

KFSM, by Dr. Mitchell Hecht, 10/30/09

Tags: alzheimer's disease, Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, Neurology

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