New research shows that targeting the immune cells in the brain can be a beneficial treatment for Alzheimer’s disease.
The team believes that they have found that activating immune cells in the right fashion can help to slow the spread of Alzheimer’s disease. Within the brain, immune cells are surrounded by protein, one of which is called TREM2. When this is impacted in a certain way, the spread of Alzheimer’s speeds up. But if the protein is activated in a different way, the immune cells around it can act in a protective manner, slowing down the disease’s progression throughout the brain. It’s not a cure, but this new research indicates it could be a valuable treatment method.
The research was conducted by a team from Lund University and the Karolinska Institutet. They published their findings in the journal, Nature Aging. There’s still a lot more work that needs to be done in the fight against Alzheimer’s, but this could be a big step in the right direction. Hopefully, it is helpful when it comes to improving the life of those with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia.
Within the brain, immune cells are called microglia. Just like within other parts of the body, these cells help fight infection, stop viruses from spreading, and help with protection. For quite some time, researchers have known that microglia play an important role in the fight against diseases like this. However, the efficacy against Alzheimer’s disease is still being explored, especially in a practical setting. Research in a lab setting is one thing, but actually putting it into practice and helping real people with it is another. Thankfully, this new research helps get us one step closer to this stage.
When it comes to Alzheimer’s disease, any forward progress in the fight against it is important. There’s no known cure for the disease at this time. Progress that advances our understanding of the disease and how to better treat it can help make the quality of life a little bit better for those that experience this type of dementia.
Treatment is a vital component of improving quality of life for those with Alzheimer’s, but it’s not the only way that those who are suffering from dementia can see improvements in their lives. It takes a whole team to do this, and the right senior care service is an important part of a strong team.
We’d love to be a part of your team! We offer a free consultation service that is designed to help get you started, even if you’re not sure where to start. One of our professionally trained caregivers would be happy to sit down with you and your family to go over what your unique needs are and how the right care can help to address those needs. Whether it’s in-home care, or something else, we’re happy to help in whatever capacity works best for you.
Please feel free to reach out to us with questions or advice. The consultation session might be free, but we believe it’s one of the most valuable tools that we provide.
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