Immunisation Shows Promise for Treating Alzheimer's
Although immunisations are more commonly used to prevent the onset of disease or illness researchers from the University of Sydney are experimenting with an immunisation as treatment for some forms of dementia.
The immunisation targets the chemical, tau, which in some dementias (notably Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementias) form abnormal structures which harm the cell, often causing its death. The immunisation prevents the changes that cause tau to form these harmful structures while allowing tau to retain its normal role in the healthy brain.
So far this research has only experimented on mice and any widespread use of this therapy is years away. However this early research is encouraging.
This research has been published in the free-access peer-review journal, PloS One:
Tau-Targeted Immunization Impedes Progression of Neurofibrillary Histopathology in Aged P301L Tau Transgenic Mice
Other stories from Dementia Research News - January 2012
Retaining Nurses in Dementia Care
People Living with Dementia and Pain
Biomarker Review Published/What is Knowledge Translation?
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Immunisation shows promise for treating Alzheimer's disease
Dementia has to be treated as a priority
