New Alzheimer's vaccine could reduce risk of dementia

Despite millions of dollars and years of research, treatments for Alzheimer's disease continue to fail. But now, a group of researchers think that it is possible to halve the number of people affected by the disease.

A team at the Southwestern Medical Center at the University of Texas has announced it has developed an experimental vaccine reducing two proteins found in the brain and badociated with Alzheimer's disease: beta-amyloid and tau. People with Alzheimer's disease, a form of dementia, have an accumulation of these proteins that prevent the brain from functioning normally. This new study was conducted on mice and showed that the vaccine could reduce beta amyloid protein by 40% and 50% tau. According to a statement released by the university, the vaccine could delay by five years the onset of Alzheimer's disease or halve the number of people affected.

"This study is the culmination of a decade of research that has repeatedly demonstrated that this vaccine can effectively and safely target animal models that we believe are likely to cause disease." Alzheimer's, "said Dr. Roger Rosenberg, co-author of the study and professor of neurology at UT Southwestern Medical Center, in a statement. "I think we're about to test this therapy in people."

The team looks optimistic, but is a vaccine against Alzheimer's disease realistic?

It's complicated, according to Dr. Thomas Wisniewski, director of the Cognitive Neurology Center at NYU Langone Health.

Wisniewski explains to MensHealth.com the results are promising, but warns that it's too early for your hopes to come true.

"The potential human applicability is very advanced," he says.

The biggest problem with animal studies is that they do not accurately reflect the functioning of human diseases and the immune system. But even if the treatment is viable, getting a vaccine against Alzheimer's disease would not be as simple as being vaccinated against the flu. Indeed, these proteins accumulate in the brain for up to 20 years before showing symptoms to patients with Alzheimer's disease. This means that people at risk for Alzheimer's disease will have to opt for the vaccine despite the possible side effects in the long run.

"It would be a bit difficult to give a viral vaccine to people who do not have symptoms," said Wisniewski. "I'm a bit dubious about it."

And tests to show who is at risk of suffering from Alzheimer's disease are expensive, which is another hurdle.

Wisniewski thinks that this should be tested on monkeys in order to make sure that it is safe and nontoxic before trying the vaccine on humans. At best, a vaccine would not be sold on the market for at least 10 years, he says.

Although Wisniewski is cautiously optimistic about this study, other new treatments for Alzheimer 's disease are under study. If only one patient disappears, millions of lives could be radically improved. At present, about five million Americans with Alzheimer's disease have trouble remembering the times we all take for granted: such as the birth of a son or even the current month. The effects of Alzheimer's disease are devastating and the number of people affected is expected to reach 14 million by 2060, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

This year, the National Institute of Health has increased its annual budget devoted to research on Alzheimer's disease to 2.3 billion.