Carmel, CA Alzheimer's Research Given A Boost Thanks To NIH, Private Donations & Genentech : View From A Private Duty Caregiver

An exciting new development in Alzheimer's Research was reported in the New York Times today.  Clinical trials will begin shortly to give Genentech's drug Crenezumab (which attacks amyloid plaques in the brain) to people that are genetically predisposed to develop Alzheimer's disease.  Scientists are hoping the new drug can stop the debilitating disease in its tracks.  Crenezumab is currently being tested in two clinical trials on people who have mild to moderate symptoms of dementia to try and discover whether it can help reduce cognitive decline or amyloid accumulation.  The study in Columbia will be "the first to focus on people who are cognitively normal but at very high risk for Alzheimer's' disease," Dr. Francis Collings, Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) told the Times.    I wrote years ago about an extended family in a village in Columbia where, because they have a specific gene and have inbred, many of them start developing dementia in their 40's and 50's.  It's one of the most heart breaking stories I have ever read and profiled a woman who at the age of 82 was forced to take care of three children between the ages of 48 and 55 who all developed early onset dementia.  The woman had to feed them and change their diapers as she did when they were children.  When the Times profiled them in 2010, researchers were very excited about studying this pool of about 5,000 people.  However, drug cartels made the area too dangerous to travel in and the studies never came to fruition.  Thankfully, a $100 million five year study will now begin on 300 of these family members, some of which are in their 30's.   "Because of this study, we do not feel as alone," said Gladys Betancur, 39, a family member who will take part in the research project. Her mother passed away from Alzheimer's disease, three of her siblings have developed symptoms, and she has had a hysterectomy because she fears having children that will develop the disease. "Sometimes we think that life is ending, but now we feel that people are trying to help us," she told the Times.  The Obama Administration has made good on their pledge to ramp up funding for Alzheimer's research and pulled $50 million out of the NIH budget to research promising groups like the one in Columbia.  Genentech also pledged $65 million for the study, and $15 million is coming from private donors via the Banner Institute.  I applaud all of these groups both public and private.  A cure for this disease can't wait.  In addition to the pain and suffering inflicted on those suffering from the disease and their family members, it could in fact bankrupt Medicare if something isn't done soon.  Regular readers of my blog know that both my father and my grandmother had Alzheimer's disease when they passed away.  I am a big supporter of the Alzheimer's Association, which has a 24-hour help line at 800-272-3900.  They are also the largest private supporter of Alzheimer's research in the United States.  Please help them with their important mission if you can by clicking on this link for the Family inHome Caregiving fundraising site for Alzheimer's Association.