Publish at December 01 2025 Updated December 01 2025
There are many degenerative diseases with a frightening reputation, and Alzheimer's is one of the most notorious. This neurological condition, which affects approximately 30% of people aged 85 and older, impacts short-term memory. This makes it difficult for the affected individual to find the right words, remember what they have done recently, and they become disoriented, lose social skills, and experience sudden mood swings.
What's more, in the more critical
stages, they begin to forget elements of their long-term memory. It is a
long and painful condition, and researchers are working hard to
discover its cause.
As a result, much of the scientific community has been working on ways to prevent these protein clumps from forming. In fact, in 2021, the FDA approved an antibody targeting beta-amyloid, even though the data supporting its use was not yet conclusive. In 2022, Science magazine refuted the 2006 study on the protein, as it had been proven that data had been fabricated by the research team.
The article has since been retracted, but during all those years, many laboratories did not seek to find other possibilities for the disease, wasting a tremendous amount of time in the search for a cure.
Fortunately, some researchers continued to search for possible causes of Alzheimer's. Among them was Donald Weaver, professor of chemistry and director of research at the University of Toronto, who, together with his team, found a possible explanation for the disease.
Demonizing beta-amyloid makes no sense to them. Its presence in the brain is essential and part of the defense system. If there is a head injury or bacterial infection, the protein will activate to fight whatever is happening in the brain. The problem, according to them, is that it cannot distinguish between the fat surrounding a bacterial cell and that of our cortex. As a result, it attacks everything indiscriminately, causing dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
Thus, they do not believe that antigen therapies would work since we are dealing with the brain, which does not function in the same way as other organs or joints affected by autoimmune diseases. However, there are certainly avenues to explore by focusing on brain immunity.
Others point to brain infections, abnormal handling of metals, or bacteria in the mouth as having an effect on the development of the disease. The good news is that research is continuing in order to eventually find the origins and cure for this disease that affects millions of people.
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Réferences
Alzheimer's May Not Actually Be a Brain Disease, Reveals Expert - https://www.sciencealert.com/alzheimers-may-not-actually-be-a-brain-disease-reveals-expert
What Is Alzheimer's Disease And Is There a Way to Treat It? - https://www.sciencealert.com/alzheimer-s-disease
L'effet de la zoothérapie sur la communication non verbale des patients atteints d'Alzheimer - https://cursus.edu/fr/31352/leffet-de-la-zootherapie-sur-la-communication-non-verbale-des-patients-atteints-dalzheimer
Periodontal microorganisms and Alzheimer disease – A causative relationship? - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/prd.12429
Review on Alzheimer's disease: Inhibition of amyloid beta and tau tangle formation - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0141813020351308?via%3Dihub
Le jeu vidéo pour comprendre et traiter la maladie d'Alzheimer - https://cursus.edu/fr/9303/le-jeu-video-pour-comprendre-et-traiter-la-maladie-dalzheimer
Alzheimer's disease as an autoimmune disorder of innate immunity endogenously modulated by tryptophan metabolites - https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/trc2.12283
β-Amyloid is an Immunopeptide and Alzheimer’s is an Autoimmune Disease - https://www.eurekaselect.com/article/119208
Mitochondria research and neurodegenerative diseases: On the track to understanding the biological world of high complexity - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1567724922000423?via%3Dihub
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