Alzheimer's study sparks a new round of debate over the amyloid hypothesis
In the long-running debate over just what causes Alzheimer's disease, one side looks to have scored a victory with new results with an in-development drug. But there's enough variation in the data to ensure that the squabbling factions of Alzheimer's will have plenty to fight about.
At issue is the so-called amyloid hypothesis, a decades-old theory claiming that Alzheimer's gradual degradation of the brain is caused by the accumulation of sticky plaques. And the new drug is BAN2401, designed by Biogen and Eisai to prevent those amyloid plaques from clustering and attack the clumps that already have.
In data presented last week, one group of patients receiving BAN2401 saw their amyloid levels plummet, a result that was tied to a significant reduction in cognitive decline compared with placebo.
[...] But to skeptics, the trial was laden with confounding details that make it impossible to draw conclusions. "These results are a mess," wrote Baird biotech analyst Brian Skorney. "Not so much that they indicate an outright failure of the [amyloid] hypothesis, but they don't really say anything informative at all."
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(Score: 2) by Snotnose on Wednesday August 01 2018, @02:43AM (3 children)
Mom died at 76 after losing her mind 4-5 years earlier. Dad died at 89 after 11 years. I think dad hung on for mom to pass before he really went downhill.
I'm 60. The thought of being like mom her last 2-3 years is bad, but damn. Dad his last 5-7 years, *shudder*.
At least come up with a diagnostic, so I know when I can lock myself into the bathroom with an hibachi so I leave as little mess as possible.
My ducks are not in a row. I don't know where some of them are, and I'm pretty sure one of them is a turkey.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 01 2018, @02:47AM (2 children)
A pressurized nitrogen bottle will result in lesser mess. Just set aside enough in your retirement fund for one.
(Score: 2) by Snotnose on Wednesday August 01 2018, @02:52AM (1 child)
I plan to cook a steak and potato on that hibachi.....
My ducks are not in a row. I don't know where some of them are, and I'm pretty sure one of them is a turkey.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 01 2018, @08:40AM
Uh-oh. You think you'll remember how to?