Alzheimer’s: research to treat the disease

Drugs for the symptomatic treatment of Alzheimer’s patients have been available for more than 20 years. However, the last one approved for this indication dates back to 2002.

So far, all clinical trials aimed at changing the course of the disease have failed. Neurology specialists affirm that the best Alzheimer’s treatment for the patient is still the caregiver, together with all the measures that have been created for patient care and family support at each stage of the disease (home care, social-health day hospitals, etc.).

Will it be possible to put an end to Alzheimer’s disease in the future?

Research of excellence is trying to demonstrate that, by acting at very early stages, it will be possible to prevent the progression of symptoms, mainly by attacking the deposition of amyloid and tau proteins. But, above all, the hope lies in translational research that will make it possible to understand the relationship between the accumulation of these proteins at brain level, neurodegeneration and the corresponding symptomatology. Specialized neuropsychological examination is capable of detecting those cognitive changes that are characteristic of the onset of Alzheimer’s disease, while the use of biomarkers, both in cerebrospinal fluid and in neuroimaging (CT, MRI) and molecular neuroimaging (PET-FDG, PET-amyloid) indicate the degree of risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease in very early stages or even in asymptomatic phases.

With research, the disease will be combated from its onset and primary and secondary prevention guidelines can be established: “Either we investigate, or we will be investigated”.