Is it possible to reverse the effects of Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease? With the current knowledge of these diseases, and current medical procedures, any reversal of symptoms is temporary and unpredictable in nature at its best, but new advances are showing that in the future, the effects might be able to be reversed.
Researchers working with fruit flies were able to demonstrate that many symptoms of neurodegeneration were able to be reversed through a variety of genetic and pharmacological techniques. While this isn’t even remotely close to demonstrating the same with humans, it is an important step in the research process. If it is possible with fruit flies, there’s a chance that it’s also possible with humans. Again, that step is a long way off, but now that it is known to be a possibility, researchers in the field can take the next appropriate steps. This isn’t a cure, but it is a step forward nonetheless. Hopefully, if researchers can better understand the things that contribute to and help slow the progression of these diseases, they can do more in the future when it comes to effectively treating people suffering from degenerative brain diseases.
One of the findings that was announced was that when certain enzymes were introduced, symptoms improved in the fruit flies because a sort of protective metabolite called kynurenic acid was able to counteract toxic metabolites. In the past, researchers have pointed to toxic substances in the brain having a negative impact on those that suffer from Alzheimer’s. If these results were able to be replicated in humans, there is a chance that the spread of these disease could be slowed down.
This is certainly exciting news in the medical and scientific communities, but is this something that you should be counting on for helping you and your family? Not at all. If you have a loved one with Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s, you need to take a proactive stance on their treatment and care. A cure might happen in the future, but as for right now, that is only speculation. The best course of action for you and your family is to find the best care that you can get them, whether it be assisting them yourself as a family caregiver, hiring a professional in-home care specialist, or in extreme circumstances, finding them a nursing home that will lovingly attend to their needs. The prospects of a cure or an ability to reverse the spread of the diseases is exciting, but it’s not yet a reality.
Going beyond Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s the researchers behind this study were optimistic that these findings could be applied widely to a variety of degenerative brain diseases. At the very least, this has given future research projects a better understanding of how these illnesses work, and it has helped prepare them for more in depth study and application of these concepts. In the meantime, you should be giving your family the love and the assistance that they need to be as safe, comfortable, and happy as they can be while suffering from these illnesses.
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