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Gene therapy will help in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease
Last reviewed: 31.05.2018
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The newest type of treatment - gene therapy - has already demonstrated positive results in patients with Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases. As the Times reported, the new technique will allow medical professionals to overcome many severe neurological pathologies, including such a dangerous disease as Alzheimer's syndrome - one of the most common forms of dementia.
Not so long ago in London there was a regular neurological conference on which the treatment of such brain diseases as Parkinson's disease, Huntington's and Alzheimer's was actively discussed . At the same time, scientists insisted that with the help of gene therapy, soon there will be an opportunity not only to treat such diseases, but also to carry out their prevention.
The essence of the newest technique is that elements of viruses carrying copies of normal genes are introduced into certain areas of the brain that are most sensitive to painful disorders. After this, the virus transfers the updated genetic coding to the cellular brain structures - as a result, their functions change, the production of a toxic protein is inhibited, the high concentration of which provokes the development of Alzheimer's disease.
"At the moment we are still at the very beginning of the road. However, even now we can fully practice a new method of treatment. First of all, we are encouraged by the fact that we managed to apply micro-viruses for gene transport to the brain, "said Steven Paul, head of the biotechnological corporation, at the conference. He also noticed that micro-viruses can deactivate individual genes inside the brain. "We have access to protein viral envelopes that can penetrate the blood-brain membrane hundreds of times easier than previously known samples. And this is a very important point, "- summed up Steven Paul.
At the same time, a group of specialists representing the Imperial College in London, said significant success in using gene therapy to combat similar pathologies in rodents. During the experiment, a specific gene was sent to the brain structures of mice with a micro virus, which positively influenced the dynamics of the disease.
Alzheimer's disease is considered to be the most important in the social plan of human pathology. Researchers and scientists are making great efforts to develop more effective methods of treatment and prevention of this disease. However, up to now, the therapeutic regimen has been limited mainly to symptomatic drugs and procedures, since it was stated that it is almost impossible to completely cure the disease.
At present, the results obtained by scientists on this issue have not yet been introduced into medical practice. At the same time, the results of numerous studies give some hope. According to the preliminary assessment of specialists, gene therapy can be applied in practice as soon as possible.
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