Furthering my post on biotechnology, I recently read an article claiming that the gene of interest that is the primary cause of Alzheimer’s has been discovered. The amyloid-beta protein (A-beta)is thought to stick together to form toxic deposits in the brain. This does explain the loss of memory as a result of this behavior. I do recall seeing a discovery channel show where they mentioned that the size of the gray matter of a person’s brain is directly proportional to the memory power of the individual. I am guessing that the gray matter originates from the Hippocampus, cause I recall that region is responsible for the memory etc. Anyhow, the show further went and elaborated about their experiments on how cab drivers had an exceptionally larger gray matter do to the fact that they are always remember short cuts/ routes etc. On a side note, now that we have GPS, do the cab drivers still have such a good memory? Anyhow, so blocking this gray matter with these toxic protein complexes could pose a problem in my opinion. So upon further investigating these toxins do in fact kill off the brain cells.
According to David Teplow, Professor of Neurology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA they have identified a loop in the A-beta protein that is the cause of this protein sticking. Now the steps is to design new drugs that both block the production of A-beta and prevent it from clumping and killing off the brain cells. This could prove to be a possible treatment for Alzheimer’s. Lets all be optimistic, cause one day we all do turn old and if this is one less battle to face, than we shall all be better off.
Thusjanthan Kubendranathan