The Future of Everything The future of Alzheimer’s treatment
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Dec 13, 2024 Michael Greicius, a renowned professor of neurology at Stanford University and expert on Alzheimer's disease, discusses groundbreaking advancements in treatment. He highlights the crucial roles of tau proteins, diverging from traditional amyloid-focused therapies. Greicius emphasizes the importance of healthy lifestyle choices to mitigate Alzheimer's risks while advising against genetic testing until more effective treatments are available. The conversation sheds light on the challenges of clinical trials and the need for innovative approaches in the fight against this debilitating disease.
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Alzheimer's: Incomplete Understanding
- Scientists understand the key players in Alzheimer's, like amyloid and tau proteins.
- However, the pathogenic pathway and optimal intervention points remain unclear.
Amyloid and Tau: The Key Players
- Amyloid, from the APP gene, forms plaques and is linked to early-onset Alzheimer's, especially in Down syndrome.
- Tau, from the MAPT gene, stabilizes microtubules but its dysfunction contributes to the disease.
Challenges in Alzheimer's Treatment Development
- Developing Alzheimer's treatments faces challenges like the blood-brain barrier and poor mouse models.
- Existing mouse models don't accurately reflect the neuronal degeneration seen in human Alzheimer's.