Potential treatment for Alzheimer's

[xchrom]

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20110804a8.html

A team of Japanese researchers has found that electrical stimulation therapy to treat people suffering from severe depression may also be effective in treating Alzheimer's disease, according to findings published Wednesday in the U.S. Journal of Neuroscience.

The researchers, including Nobuo Kato, a professor at Kanazawa Medical University, and Kenji Yamamoto, a physician at the National Hospital Organization Utano Hospital, obtained the findings by conducting experiments on mice.

While current medication for Alzheimer's mainly delays the progression of the disease, electrical stimulation therapy directly suppresses the effects of a protein mainly responsible for the disease, they said.

The team focused on a channel for potassium ion, which protects cells from dying. A cell has multiple channels that allow ions to enter and exit, but the one for potassium ion doesn't open when it should due to the effects of the key disease-causing protein, beta amyloid.

[Altoid_Cyclist]

1. Crossing my fingers that this or some other approach pans out.

It really bites to see family members deteriorate from this horrible disease.

It's even worse when you realize that you have just about all of the high risk factors.

[azul]

2. This could save medicare $ trillions.

And more importantly, perhaps, it may save us from a fate worse than death. (My father has it now severely and it is horrible and terrifying.)

I think I shall hook up some ear-electrode jacks in my electric car, the radio is so shitty anyway, and it may help to keep my SUV-induced Tourette's in check while driving. Who knows?

[HysteryDiagnosis]

3. The "current" medication, how telling. Great news for us oldies but goodies. n/t

[HuckleB]

4. K & R.