Alzheimer News:

Researchers Say New Vaccine Shows Promise of Reversing Memory Loss From Alzheimer's

Researchers are reporting development of a vaccine made of specialized blood cells that reverses memory loss in mice with Alzheimer's, according to a report in the journal Neurobiology of Disease.

The researchers from the Byrd Alzheimer's Institute in Tampa reported that tests of the new vaccine on mice show promise of reversing memory loss and seriously slowing the effects of Alzheimer's on human patients.

In the study, researchers took ordinary white blood cells (immune cells) from normal mice and exposed those white blood cells to an abnormal protein called "beta-amyloid." Beta-amyloid is believed by many to be the root cause of this devastating disease.

A single injection of white blood cells "sensitized" to beta-amyloid was given to Alzheimer's mice with impaired memories. When the mice were tested several months later, their memory performance was surprisingly improved, even up to the level of normal mice.

Moreover, the researchers said this single injection of vaccine increased connections between brain cells, and reduced brain levels of beta-amyloid in the Alzheimer's mice without inducing an inflammatory response in either their blood or brain.

"This adoptive transfer vaccine approach is important not only for the long-term benefits it provides, but also for what it doesn't provide -- harmful side effects," said Gary Arendash, one of the lead researchers.

Plans for clinical trials with the new vaccine in Alzheimer's patients are underway at the Byrd Alzheimer's Center and Research Institute.

"Even if this new vaccine does not cure Alzheimer's disease, it may significantly slow down the disease process and thus provide years of quality life to individuals diagnosed with the disease," said Arendash.

The new vaccine created by Byrd Institute researchers and their collaborators did not induce an inflammatory response in either the blood or brain of Alzheimer's mice, said Dr. Douglas Ethell of the University of California, another principle investigator in the study.

Source: Medical Week staff, week of June 1, 2006