The Alzheimer’s vaccine is on the right track

2000/12/20 Elhuyar Zientzia

• Mikrobiologia
• Farmakologia

Three research groups have released the possible vaccine of Alzheimer's in this week's issue of the journal Nature (nº 408, 975-979, 979-982, pp. 982-985. ). They have used genetically modified mice to simulate Alzheimer's disease and have found that the vaccine delays memory and study problems of the disease.

Known as ß-amyloid, a molecule that appears to be directly related to the disease, forms plaques in the human brain with Alzheimer's and mouse. However, it was not clear whether the memory problems that humans have also appear in the mouse. Thanks to a team of researchers from the University of Edinburgh it has been possible to know that in old age mice also lose their memory.

The vaccine is formed by the protein<-amyloid. They knew that it prevented the formation and growth of the aforementioned plates, but did not stop the cerebral degeneration. The work of researchers from Edinburgh, Toronto and Florida has filled the fight against Alzheimer's with hope. There is still a long way to go, but knowing where to go.