Recent Advances in Alzheimer’s Disease and Treatments

Recent Advances in Alzheimer’s Disease and Treatment

Alzheimer’s, the leading cause of dementia globally, has become a significant public health concern and rates are expected to increase as the aging population increases. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer’s and other dementias cost the US approximately $345 billion in 2023. A recent study led by Amsterdam scientists has made a groundbreaking discovery in the realm of Alzheimer’s disease and may explain the ineffectiveness of some treatment medications. Published in the journal Nature Aging, the researchers looked at the cerebrospinal fluid of over 400 Alzheimer’s patients which showed 5 distinct subtypes of the disease. Dr. Deryk Harting, a respected member of one of the highest rated auto injury care medical facilities in the Tampa Bay area, discusses recent advances in Alzheimer’s disease and treatment.

The investigation was led by scientists from the Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam University, and Maastricht University, who examined proteins associated with Alzheimer’s. Through the analysis of 1,058 proteins found within the cerebrospinal fluid, the team identified five subtypes with different clinical progressions and life expectancies. This newfound classification is expected to enhance the understanding and clinical management of Alzheimer’s.

Each of the identified subtypes demonstrated distinctive characteristics. One variant is associated with increased brain cell growth, fueling the production of abnormal proteins linked to Alzheimer’s. Interestingly, patients with this subtype have the longest average life expectancy. Another subtype is driven by issues within the brain’s internal immune system, while a third is linked to problems in protein production. The fourth and fifth subtypes are connected to blood supply issues to the brain and disruptions in the blood-brain barrier. Below is some more information on each subtype.

Subtype 1:

• Higher tau protein levels
• Higher levels of brain cell growth
• Longest average survival of 8.9 years
• Genetic risk factors identified
• Potential best treatment: antibody treatments

Subtype 2:

• Higher tau protein levels
• Overactive immune system contributes to disease
• More severe brain atrophy
• Potential best treatment: immune system inhibitors

Subtype 3:

• Higher tau protein levels
• RNA dysregulation
• Shortest average survival of 5.6 years
• Distinct protein mix from other types
• Genetic risk factors identified
• Potential best treatment: RNA function restoring drugs

Subtype 4:

• Most severe brain atrophy
• Slower brain cell growth
• Dysfunction of blood vessels in the brain
• Larger proportion of proteins related to immune cells
• Genetic risk factors identified
• Potential best treatment: Drugs which inhibit a white blood cell type

Subtype 5:

• Blood-brain barrier impairment
• More brain microbleeds
• Slower brain cell growth
• Genetic risk factors identified
• Potential best treatment: cerebrovascular drugs

The study highlights the potential genetic connections associated with each subtype. Understanding these genetic links could offer insights into why certain individuals are more susceptible to specific types of Alzheimer’s. The findings also provide a possible explanation for the failure of some previously tested Alzheimer’s drugs in clinical trials, despite promising laboratory results. Certain medications may only be effective for specific groups of patients due to the underlying cause of each subtype. The authors caution that different medications could interact dangerously with specific subtypes, posing risks such as cerebral bleeding.

While there is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s, the study’s findings not only offer hope for more effective treatments but also highlight the need for a targeted and individualized approach against this debilitating disease.

— This article is written by Deryk Harting, DC, one of the members of Chambers Medical Group’s team of car accident chiropractors who offer a variety of treatments and therapies ranging from diagnostic testing to various soft tissue therapies for car accidents and injuries in Florida.

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