X-Message-Number: 16475
Date: Fri, 08 Jun 2001 15:20:46 -0700
From: Olaf Henny <>
Subject: Alzheimer's Reversible?
References: <>

In Message #16459 Max More <> wrote:
>Subject: Alzheimer's and memory loss

>You say it is "certain" that Alzheimer's destroys memory. Is that really
>true?

Okay, you caught me, actually it appears not to be.  Researchers
on several intitutions have had recently great success in
prevention of formation of the plaque, which causes Alzheimer's
as well as in clearing this plaque in mice with Alzheimer's:

QUOTE:
Scientists Discover Drug that Reverses Alzheimer's
Symptoms
   Researchers from Australia are investigating a drug that
dramatically reverses the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease in
rats. A 10-year long investigation into the disease has revealed
that amyloid protein, the constituent of amyloid plaques, binds
copper and zinc very strongly. Researchers believe that an
abnormal regulation of the brain's ability to utilise naturally
occurring copper and zinc is a fundamental part of the disease
process. Trials of a drug, known as PBT3, in transgenic mice has
demonstrated that the drug reduces protein build-up by binding to
copper and zinc molecules. No adverse side effects of the
treatment were observed and plaque build-up decreased by 50%
during the 9-week trial period. Human trials of PBT3 have begun
in Australia.

   SOURCE/REFERENCE: Reported by www.yahoo.com on the 6th
November 2000
UNQUOTE

If the removal of the plaque also restores the "lost" memories
remains to be seen.  I was, maybe a bit unethically, trying to
come up with an example, where euthanasia or suicide was
indicated to preserve identity rather than just to relieve
suffering, the latter being something that Louis would never accept.
In retrospect Mike Perry s use of a brain tumour seemed to be the
more suitable example.

>I'd appreciate hearing from someone who really knows the current
>science in this area. I'm suspicious of the above claim because (a) people
>with Alzheimer's seem to sometimes recall things and sometimes not; (b)
>memory is not a single process. It may be that the ability to *retrieve*
>memories is damaged by Alzheimer's, but perhaps the memories are still
>there and retrieval abilities could be repaired. This point goes along with
>the first point -- even normal people sometimes have difficulty accessing a
>memory even though they know it's there, and it often pops into mind later on.

I have a number of articles concerning recent research on
Alzheimer s and other cerebro-degenerative diseases in my small
but growing archive on new age medicine, i.e. stem cell, gene and
other less invasive procedures in combatting cancer,
cardiovascular- and other age-accelerated diseases.  I would make
these available to anybody, who asks for them by private e-mail.

Best,
Olaf

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