Alzheimer’s disease is influenced by lifestyle choices

Alzheimer’s patients and their families received devastating news earlier this year when one of the most promising drugs, Aducanumab, failed to show a positive outcome. The drug, which had shown early results of cognitive improvement and the ability to get rid of amyloid from the brain, was one of the most hopeful drug prospects we had. The National Institutes of Health has spent billions of dollars on Alzheimer’s research. Between 2002 and 2012, 244 compounds were tested in a total of 413 trials but none of the drugs were found to stop or reverse the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. The reality is that our current therapeutic approach only slows down the process for a short period of time. We learned last week that the drug company Pfizer knew that their drug Enbrel demonstrated a potential 64 percent reduction in Alzheimer’s risk in those using it long-term for arthritis, yet they chose not to pursue further research or to share this information. There was no guarantee that the clinical trial would have shown positive results, but many experts feel it is unethical not to disclose such results, especially when there aren’t any promising pharmaceutical interventions in the pipelines. There is the question if the analysis on the potential return from a drug that was about to go generic played any role in Pfizer’s decision not to pursue the research. The Alzheimer’s Association is hosting "Healthy Living: Pathway to Hope" 8 a.m.-4 p.m. June 20 at the Carrasco Room at Midland College. The conference will focus on healthy lifestyle choices and will offer presentations on physical activity, stress management, nutrition, humor and sleep. The event is free, but registration is required. Lunch will be served. CEUs are available. For more information contact Janet Cross at jcross@alz.org or 570-9191, ext. 8031. Let’s […]

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