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. These plaques are the main sign of the disease and responsible for blocking and destroying neurons.
Promising Research
The monoclonal antibody BAN2401 is an immune system protein designed to remove amyloid plaques (beta-amyloid) from the brain, the results of which were presented Wednesday at the annual meeting of the 39; Alzheimer's Association in the United States. To test whether this compound would be effective against Alzheimer's and at what dosage, researchers administered five doses every 15 days in 856 patients with mild cognitive decline or early Alzheimer's disease.
The results showed that the highest dose of treatment, which corresponds to 10 milligrams per kilogram, was the one that showed the best results in delaying the symptoms of the disease for 18 months of follow-up
"They were people with very slight disabilities, some confusion, forgetting the name of someone in when.It is the goal: to stop Alzheimer's disease when it is in the wildest presentation. "
Alerts
But these are not all flowers, these promising results were only obtained when the researchers extended the duration of the study from 12 to 18 months. In addition, it is only a phase II study, which evaluated the dosage of the drug and not its effectiveness. The main side effect of the new treatment was cerebral swelling, present in 10% of participants
It is important to emphasize that the remedy is not able to prevent memory loss and lucidity, but pushes back the intensification. However, the new discovery may represent a significant improvement in the quality of life for millions of patients facing the damage of an incurable disease like Alzheimer's.
Companies now plan to start Phase III, the last stage that includes a number (19459008), the US agency that regulates drugs and foods.
Alzheimer's
Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disease that causes diminished cognitive function as brain cells degenerate and die, causing a steady decline in mental function. The main symptoms of the disease are: difficulty of memory (especially recent events), vague speech during the conversations, delay in routine activities, forgetfulness of known people and places, deterioration of social skills and emotional unpredictability.
According to World Health Organization (WHO) this disease accounts for 60% to 70% of dementia cases – a group of brain disorders that result in a loss of intellectual and social abilities. It is estimated that 47 million people suffer from dementia worldwide, with 10 million new cases registered each year; which could triple by 2050, the researchers said. In Brazil, Alzheimer's disease is among the top 10 causes of death and affects 1.2 million people.
As an incurable disease, early diagnosis can make all the difference since the treatment helps prevent their progression and relieve symptoms.
Blood Pressure and Dementia
The same day that the drug was announced, another team of researchers published a study pointing out that lowering blood pressure was able to reduce the rate of mild cognitive impairment – a precursor of dementia by 20%
According to research, also presented at the annual congress of the Alzheimer's Association, when systolic blood pressure (PAS) known as "maximum pressure" – moment of contraction of the heart, causing blood flow to the arteries – was reduced from 140 mmHg to 120 mmHg,
According to Carol Routledge, research director at Alzheimer Research UK, a British NGO, hypertension is a risk factor for dementia, so it is necessary to maintain the pressure in the normal levels (on average 12 by 8), to avoid even heart disease. "This study suggests that intensive treatment of blood pressure so that it does not fall below the point where doctors diagnose hypertension, but continue in the direction of optimal and healthy range, may help to reduce the risk of memory problems and thought, "she explained to The Telegraph .
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