Alzheimer Research

Among the few therapies that has shown success in the fight against Alzheimer's disease is the implantatioin of cerebral fluid brain shunts. 4443333

Dr. Gerald Silverberg, a Stanford neurosurgeon, bases the shunt's success on apparent slow down of the disease. "They are still living at home, still functioning, still caring for themselves and don't require nursing home placement," he said. Alzheimer's is a progressive disease and slow downs are not typical.

Silverberg noted a higher incidence of Alzheimer's in patients with hydrocephalus -- water on the brain. Both conditions result in decreased flow of cerebrospinal fluid. This hinders removal of excess amyloid-beta protein fragments, called peptides. As a result, the peptides accumulate, stick together and attach to brain cells, causing the inflammation and damage common to the disease.

The process is invasive, however, it speeds up the elimination of fluid containing peptides and allows fresh, peptide-free fluid to replace it. Greg M. Cole, associate director of the UCLA Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at the University of California at Los Angeles, explained that the rationale is valid, but a larger trial is warranted .

Several studies indicate that increased mental activity decreases the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

A February study found that people over 65 who read books or played cards daily had about half the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. It's also known that educational and occupational attainment is inversely correlated with the risk of developing the disease.

The latest study of 842 people, average age 76, published in the December 2 issue of the journal Neurology, also found that people who frequently read, played cards and completed crosswords were half as likely to develop Alzheimer's disease as those who didn't.

By LEONARD ZEHR

Thursday, September 15, 2005 Page B22

Drug developer Neurochem Inc. has launched the European phase of a late-stage clinical study at 73 clinics in 10 countries to test its Alzhemed treatment for Alzheimer's disease. The company plans to enroll 930 mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's patients, who will receive one of two different dosages of Alzhemed or a placebo for 18 months. In July, Neurochem completed enrolment of 1,052 similar patients in its North American phase of its late-stage testing. Those results should be available by the first quarter of 2007. Alzhemed has been designed to bind with the amyloid protein and prevent formation of fibrils, which are believed to contribute to the disease. NRM (TSX) rose 22 cents to $13.05.

Neurochem expands Alzhemed clinical study