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Vaccine for Alzheimer's may be on the horizon
January 16, 2013
Researchers are on the tipping point of discovering a vaccine for Alzheimer's
A breakthrough Canadian study has indicated there may be a vaccine against the threat of Alzheimer's on the horizon for those most at risk for the disease.
Research from Laval University, the University Hospital of Quebec and GlaxoSmithKline has identified a molecule, MPL, that may defend against cognitive decline.
In a test carried out on mice, it was shown that weekly injections of MPL over a 12-week period eliminated up to 80 percent of senile plaques - abnormal structures in the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients.
As the study observed, additional tests measuring the mice's ability to learn also showed significant improvement in their cognitive function over the same period.
On the one hand, MPL could be administered as an intramuscular injection to people with Alzheimer's to slow the progression of the disease. However, it could also be used as a preventative in those with risk factors for the illness.
Dr Serge Rivest commented: "When our team started working on Alzheimer's disease a decade ago, our goal was to develop better treatment for Alzheimer's patients.
"With the discovery announced today, I think we're close to our objective."
