This video is sponsored by our friends over at SENS Research Foundation!
THIS EPISODE OF LIFE NOGGIN WAS FILMED IN FRONT OF A SOMEWHAT ALIVE STUDIO AUDIENCE
[AUDIENCE CHEERS]
Thank you thank you!
For over 200 years, vaccines have been protecting you humans from lots
of different diseases by helping your bodies build immunity in case you come into contact
with them. Kinda sorta like the restraining order i put on Mocko, my barely evil twin!
[AUDIENCE LAUGHTER]
Yes. He will go to jail if he violates it. Yes.
Now, scientists are developing vaccines to fight off harmful components created within your bodies,
ones that are capable of causing organ failure and diseases like Alzheimer’s.
These components are called amyloids. [AUDIENCE BOOS]
Yes! Yes! Correct call with the booing!
Amyloids are damaged molecules that have deformed and become sticky. When
these sticky substances attach to organs or tissues, they can cause a lot of trouble.
They buildup between the cells and make it difficult for the organ to work effectively,
which can result in organ failure.
[AUDIENCE GASPS]
This can happen in many different parts of the body.
For instance, the human brain contains tens of billions of interconnected cells called
neurons that process and transmit information. But when beta-amyloid proteins stick together
in small chains that are abnormal but still able to stay dissolved in the fluid bathing the brain,
they make it difficult for the neurons to communicate and function properly and
also cause the neurons to create other abnormal proteins that eventually result in their death.
As you age, more and more of these soluble beta-amyloid chains(called oligomers) are formed.
But in people with Alzheimer’s disease, this accumulation happens much faster,
leading to the death of more and more brain cells and the loss of one’s memory and thinking skills.
But there are ways to remove amyloid oligomers from the brain. And one of
the methods scientists have been exploring are vaccines.
[AUDIENCE CHEERS]
Yes! Yes! We like vaccines! They’re the reason you’re not sitting in an
iron lung right now watching this video.
These kinds of vaccines work the same way as a vaccine against an infectious
disease–by stimulating the immune system to create antibodies that capture and remove their target.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] In this case, that target is amyloids.
[AUDIENCE BOOS] Yeah! Throw your digital tomatoes at them!
While there have been some promising results showing a reduction in the number of beta amyloid
oligomers in mice, scientists are still working on making an effective vaccine for humans.,
Another treatment method is injecting pre-made antibodies into the body. This
is called infusion therapy and there is already one of these medications
that has received accelerated approval by the FDA after clinical studies found that
it significantly slowed the progression of Alzheimer’s disease., Another one was
recently reported to work even better and is expected to get the FDA seal of approval soon.
[AUDIENCE CLAPS] Yeah.
I know! It’s not just mice getting the special treatment this time! Things are happening people!
But the possibilities don’t end there.
Scientists have found even more effective antibodies,
called catalytic antibodies or catabodies.
Instead of binding to an amyloid to begin the destruction process, they simply break it into
smaller, harmless pieces. This lets one antibody do the work of many antibodies in much less time.
In fact, researchers believe that one catabody could destroy over
40,000 amyloids before it’s eliminated by the body.
So, look out amyloids, your days are numbered!
Just like Mocko’s days are numbered after violating my restraining order!
[AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] Oh no. I’m about to hurt badly!
[AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] So, only if you're comfortable
with sharing your experience, let me know in the comment section below, what is one condition that
you've been suffering from. Maybe we can make a video about it and shed some light on it!
If you want to learn more,
check out the incredible work being done by SENS Research Foundation,
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As always, my name is Blocko, this has been Life Noggin, don't forget to keep on thinking!