I'm Shelby Cullinan with today's health news.
Could reversing Alzheimer's in just one week be possible soon?
New research indicates that might be a real possibility.
In a new study on mice, a protein called IL-33 was found to reverse the cognitive decline
and memory issues associated with Alzheimer's in just one week while appearing to prevent
future symptoms as well.
About 60 to 80 percent of dementia patients have Alzheimer's disease, a progressive condition
that interferes with daily life and eventually causes death.
Scientists from the University of Glasgow discovered that when mice bred to develop
cognitive decline as they age were given IL-33, not only did cognitive tasks and memory improve,
but physical symptoms of Alzheimer's were also less apparent.
One physical indicator of Alzheimer's is brain plaque, or an abnormal collection of protein
between nerve cells in the brain.
Alzheimer's patients also have brain tangles which are collections of dying nerves.
In this study, the mice had less brain plaque after the week of treatment.
According to the study authors, IL-33 surrounds the plaque and releases an enzyme to digest
it.
Despite the study's results, further studies are necessary to determine how much IL-33
is safe for humans, and the study team advises against too much optimism.
For dailyRx, I'm Shelby Cullinan.