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Alzheimer\u2019s disease was named after the German psychiatrist Dr. Alois Alzheimer, who first noticed the case of a woman who had an unusual type of mental illness with symptoms of dementia and declining motor activity and speech problems.<\/p>\n\n
After the woman\u2019s death, he examined her brain, which showed abnormal clumps now known as amyloid plaques. Currently, there is no causal treatment for Alzheimer\u2019s disease. However, some therapies help to slow down the decline of mental abilities in those affected.1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n If difficulties with memory, judgement and thinking\/comprehension occur, one should consult the family doctor or a neurologist.<\/p>\n\n First, the doctor takes the patient\u2019s medical history and asks for a description of the symptoms. Both the person affected and a family member or close friend are interviewed. The diagnosis of Alzheimer\u2019s disease is also based on tests such as the Mini-Mental Status Test to assess memory and thinking ability.<\/p>\n\n Blood tests and imaging<\/a> can rule out other possible causes. In addition, there are various physical and neurological examinations.2<\/sup><\/p>\n\n Important to know: Alzheimer\u2019s disease can only be diagnosed with absolute certainty after death, when characteristic plaques are found in the brain during an autopsy.<\/p>\n\n Neither conventional medicine nor naturopathic methods are able to restore destroyed nerve cells. All therapies are therefore aimed at slowing down the course of the disease and maintaining the quality of life for as long as possible.<\/p>\n\n Orthodox medical treatment is based on two pillars: Medication and more advanced measures. First and foremost, so-called anti-dementia<\/em> drugs are used, which influence various neurotransmitters in the brain. These include acetylcholinesterase inhibitors<\/strong> (donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine) and the glutamate antagonist memantine<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n Studies have shown that treatments with donepezil and memantine improved symptoms in the short term. After a therapy duration of about 9 months, the cognitive abilities deteriorated and even fell below the initial level.3<\/sup><\/p>\n\n With corresponding pre-existing conditions, doctors additionally prescribe drugs against depression<\/a>, high blood pressure<\/a> or elevated cholesterol levels. The range of further applications includes behavioural therapy, cognitive training (brain jogging), reality orientation, milieu therapy, music therapy and occupational therapy.4<\/sup><\/p>\n\n Physiotherapy can be very helpful in Alzheimer\u2019s patients. Research shows the following:5<\/sup><\/p>\n\n Physiotherapists can help patients live their lives more easily and much healthier. They are trained to use a variety of teaching methods and techniques to treat patients:<\/p>\n\n Finally, we would like to introduce you to the latest orthodox medical treatment approach. In June 2021, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval for the monoclonal antibody aducanumab<\/strong> (Aduhelm\u2122) for the treatment of Alzheimer\u2019s disease.6<\/sup><\/p>\n\n The term monoclonal antibodies is used by biochemists to describe proteins (proteins) that originate from a single cell (B-lymphocyte) of the immune system and are directed against a specific target molecule. In the case of aducanumab, these are the beta-amyloids that are deposited in the brain in the form of plaques in Alzheimer\u2019s patients. In animal experiments with transgenic mice<\/a>, the US company Biogen was able to show that aducanumab reduces the number of beta-amyloids in a dose-dependent manner.7<\/sup><\/p>\n\n Using positron emission tomography (amyloid PET<\/a>), scientists demonstrated the same effect in Alzheimer\u2019s patients. This was enough for the FDA to approve Aduhelm\u2122 as a new drug for Alzheimer\u2019s disease.8<\/sup><\/p>\n\n The rapid approval is all the more astonishing because the efficacy of the drug was not proven in the two phase III clinical trials<\/a>. This was the conclusion reached by American scientists at the Mayo Clinic<\/em> and Stanford University<\/em> after analysing the available data material.9<\/sup><\/p>\n\n In other words, aducanumab apparently does not prevent the progressive loss of cognitive abilities at all, but merely breaks down the amyloid plaques in the brains of those affected. Those who are familiar with the results of the Nun study<\/strong>, which we discussed in Part 1<\/a> of the series of articles on dementia and Alzheimer\u2019s in the context of the inflammation theory<\/strong>, are not surprised by this.<\/p>\n\n They show, in fact, that the plaques observed have nothing to do with the reduction in memory and brain performance. Thus, the new hope in Alzheimer\u2019s disease could turn out to be a huge flop.<\/p>\n\n The drug has so far only been approved in the USA and is therefore only available there. According to the Handelsblatt, therapy with Aduhelm\u2122 costs $56,000 per year.10<\/sup><\/p>\n\n Whether the costs will ever be paid by the statutory health insurance funds in Germany is written in the stars.<\/p>\n\n Sources:<\/p>\n\n [1] This is How Alzheimer’s Disease Got Its Name<\/a>, at https:\/\/time.com, Access date 18.09.2021<\/p>\n\n [2] Alzheimer’s disease<\/a>, auf https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org, , Access date 18.09.2021<\/p>\n\n [3] Shi J et al. Adding Chinese herbal medicine to conventional therapy brings cognitive benefits to patients with Alzheimer\u2019s disease: a retrospective analysis<\/a>. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2017;17:533<\/p>\n\n [4] Demenz, auf https:\/\/www.netdoktor.de, Access date 18.09.2021<\/p>\n\n [5] Physiotherapy works: dementia care<\/a>, at https:\/\/www.csp.org.uk, Access date 18.09.2021<\/p>\n\n [6] FDA Grants Accelerated Approval for Alzheimer\u2019s Drug<\/a>, at https:\/\/www.fda.gov, Access date 18.09.2021<\/p>\n\n [7] Sevigny J et al. The antibody aducanumab reduces A\u03b2 plaques in Alzheimer’s disease<\/a>. Nature. 2016 Sep 1;537(7618):50-6.<\/p>\n\n [8] Controversial US approval for first antibody in Alzheimer’s disease<\/a>, at https:\/\/www.pharmazeutische-zeitung.de, Access date 18.09.2021<\/p>\n\n [9] Knopman DS et al. Failure to demonstrate efficacy of aducanumab: An analysis of the EMERGE and ENGAGE trials as reported by Biogen, December 2019<\/a>. Alzheimers Dement. 2021 Apr;17(4):696-701.<\/p>\n\nWhen a visit to the doctor is necessary if Alzheimer’s disease is suspected<\/h3>\n\n
Diagnosis of Alzheimer\u2019s disease<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n
Conventional medicine for Alzheimer’s disease<\/h3>\n\n
Physiotherapy in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease<\/h3>\n\n
Aducanumab \u2013 The new hope of orthodox medicine<\/h3>\n\n
\n\n Related articles: Alzheimer’s disease and dementia <\/h3>\n\n
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