This could be good news for those who are trying to stay sharp during retirement living.
The drug appears to interact with the amyloid plaques that gather on the brain during the development of dementia. It binds to these proteins, so that when the molecules travel through the body, their toxic effects are neutralized because they are unable to bind to neurons.
A study of mice subjects has found that injecting bapineuzumab into the system can have beneficial effects to mice who have had no formation of the plaques in the brain. The real challenge comes when it's time to observe the effects that the vaccine has on symptoms in patients who already have the disease.
Researcher Gene Kinney of Johnson & Johnson said that this proof will only be found after human test trials are complete, according to the news source. It could be a boon for those currently performing Alzheimer's care as well.
The Alzheimer's Association estimates that 5.3 million Americans are currently affected by the condition and 10.9 million family caregivers are tending to the needs of these individuals.
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