Animals with Alzheimer's Disease: New Techniques for Treatment

Research performed in a model of Alzheimer's disease established in mice at Jacksonville, Florida's Mayo Clinic has led to the discovery of a new technique that may help reverse Alzheimer disease pathology in humans.

The discovery was made after scientists attempted to prove that inflammation in the brain was caused by the activation of the brain's immune cells. However, researchers soon realized that the when brain's immune cells were activated by the interleukin-6 protein (IL-6), they actually removed plaques in the brain. Based on this, scientists were then able to create a new technique to remove amyloid plaque, a hallmark of Alzheimer's, from the brains of live animals.

Researcher Pritam Das stated that the study, "highlights the notion that manipulating the brain's immune response could be translated into clinically tolerated regimens for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases." To read the abstract of the study, click here to view "Massive gliosis induced by interleukin-6 suppresses A{beta} deposition in vivo: evidence against inflammation as a driving force for amyloid deposition ."