Every now and then we hear on the news or in the media that more work has been done on an Alzheimer’s vaccine. Lots of people get excited over this because Alzheimer’s is so common and devastating to millions of Americans and others around the world. The attempt to develop an anti-Alzheimer’s vaccine is nothing new and research actually goes back nearly two decades. So, even when the latest news from the University of New Mexico announced they have had good results of an experimental vaccine on mice, we shouldn’t get overly optimistic that it will work in humans or that it may be right around the corner. Even back in 2003, researchers at the University of Toronto asked “how close are we to developing a vaccine for Alzheimer’s?”
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How an Alzheimer’s Vaccine Works
Vaccines have been developed to target one specific type of protein – tau. While tau is found in everyone’s brains, it builds up to very large amounts in the brains of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. Many scientists believe tau is the cause of the cognitive decline associated with the disease. As tau accumulates in the brain, it interferes with brain signaling and communication. In research, mice who received the vaccine developed antibodies that cleared out the abnormal tau protein from the areas of the brain associated with memory and learning. And, the improvements lasted for a month. This sounds like great news. But, unfortunately, success in mice doesn’t necessarily mean it will be effective in humans.
What’s the Problem?
Getting a vaccine approved can take decades to make sure it is safe and effective. It can also cost millions of dollars. Vaccines have been developed in the past and failed due to dangerous side effects like swelling of the brain. Added to this, Alzheimer’s disease is a complex disorder and is being called by some, a multifaceted disease, making the development of a vaccine even more difficult. The most recent line of thinking, and some of the most interesting research, indicates that the gut or microbiome may be involved in the development of the disease and some researchers are working on the “Brain-Gut-Microbiota Axis”. Just recently, China approved the drug Oligomannate, which is derived from a compound in seaweed, due to its ability to reduce inflammation caused by gut bacteria.
Hope for the Future
While past efforts to develop an Alzheimer’s vaccine have failed, there is always the future. Every research finding is another step closer to an effective treatment and maybe even a cure. It is just too soon right now to determine if a vaccine will work. By 2050 almost 14 million Americans will have Alzheimer’s disease. Any new drug that might offer some help is worth the effort so vaccines are still worth exploring. We must keep moving forward with guarded optimism.
(NOTE: Interested in learning more about Memory Care & Dementia? Checkout my Memory Care & Dementia CEUs on CEU Academy and try a FREE CEU today!)