Hope for Alzheimer's patients

Recent discoveries may give hope for Alzheimer's patients. It has been discovered that
what causes memory loss in Alzheimer's patients may be toxic proteins. These toxic proteins seem to work by attaching themselves to human neurons inside the brain. This disrupts the transmission of electrical signals along the neurons preventing the normal function of the brain. If scientist can find a way to neutralize the effects of these toxic proteins they may be able to prevent memory loss in patients with early signs of Alzheimer's.

See: NEUROSCIENCE: "Downsized Target" A tiny protein called ADDL could be the key to Alzheimer's By Tom Valeo" in Scientific America magazine, May 2004.

This represents a great hope for Alzheimer's patients, especially those who are showing early symptoms. It may even be possible that a drug or vaccine can be developed which will act a miracle cure for those with Alzheimer's and memory loss caused by these toxic proteins.

What can you do if you have a parent or grandparent with Alzheimer's, dementia or other disease where memory loss is a problem? Perhaps you will want to buy stock in Merck. Merck has committed $48 million to develop and market an antibody and vaccine to counter the effects of toxic proteins which cause memory loss. Merck has teamed up with Acumen Pharmaceuticals which holds the patient rights to ADDLs. Thus by supporting Merck you will help fund efforts to develop a prevention and/or possible cure for Alzheimer's.