Alzheimer’s disease is diagnosed in more than 1,200 people each day. Currently there is no cure of the disease although a few medications do slow the progression. The University of Sydney’s Brain and Mind Research Institute (BMRI) has announced they have developed a vaccine that is proving to slow progression of memory loss for mice with Alzheimer’s disease and other kinds of dementia. The Australian university is already working with pharmaceutical companies in the U.S.A. to develop this new vaccine for humans.
This vaccine targets a protein known as tau and prevents the ongoing formation of neurofibrillary tangles in the brain of a mouse with Alzheimer’s disease. It is the first study to show that the vaccine targeting the tau protein can be effective once the disease has already set in.
Be sure to ask your medical doctor about any clinical trials for medications that you or a senior you are caring for may qualify for, as every medication on the market was first part of a clinical trial study. Clinical trials also give you access to doctors who are experienced in caring for seniors with diseases in their medical practice’s area of specialty. You may also obtain caregiver training for seniors with memory loss to understand how to best communicate with them as Alzheimer’s disease progresses. You may also enjoy our story about meeting former President Ronald Reagan after he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
Senior’s with memory loss may need senior care services for ten years or more and by planning ahead to learn about the senior care options in your area, you can better prepare for the financial and care needs.
