New Approach For Alzheimer’s Vaccine

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(From EurekAlert). "Current treatments for Alzheimer's disease focus on the symptoms since no therapies have been clinically proven to slow or prevent progression of the disease. Amyloid protein deposits are present in the early phase of the disease - a fact that suggests a gene vaccination would be a step forward in slowing the progression of dementia." Potential Alzheimer's vaccines tested to date have been based on amyloid protein - and have some serious drawbacks. A Texas research team is now trying a new gene-based vaccine in mice to generate antibodies that fight the buildup of amyloid plaque without causing the known harmful side effects of existing vaccines.

Link: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2004-12/uots-gvf121404.php