Psoriasis drug may halt or reverse Alzheimer's disease

SmelLASlime ^ | November 27, 2012 | Melissa Healy

[jwsea55]

A biological medication already widely used to treat plaque psoriasis may be able to slow the accumulation of amyloid plaques in the brain that are the hallmark of Alzheimer's disease, a new study has found. The same study found that in older mice with established Alzheimer's, this treatment approach, which suppresses the brain's immune reaction to beta amyloid, brought a marked improvement in cognitive function and may even halt or reverse early signs of Alzheimer's.

The new study was published this week in the journal Nature Medicine.

Conducted by researchers in Switzerland and Germany, the study offers a glimmer of hope in the thus-far discouraging search for a therapy that could halt or reverse the inexorable process of neuronal loss and mental decline that affects some 35-million people worldwide. It also strengthens evidence for the long-suspected role of inflammation in the development of Alzheimer's disease.

[GeronL]

this psoriasis medicine... is it the one that is $1,000 per injection? With up to 10 needed in a year to clear up psoriasis??

[jwsea55]

You are doing DC math. :-))

Check this out:
As a lucky Australian, the feral Govt. has covered the cost of my receiving two recent injections of the new drug STELARA at a cost of Aus $9,250 per injection my contribution was $33.60. Previous I had a PSI score of 29 currently after being on Stelara for 3 months my PSI score is at 11.5, I need to aim for PSI score of 7.5 in order to receive an new prescription for continuation of Stelara as my first script has cost Aus $29,000 (my contribution $100).

[Figment]

Cigarettes can prevent it altogether

[TigersEye]

Alzheimer’s or psoriasis?

[Alter Kaker]

Yeah, you die of lung cancer long before you’re old enough to get Alzheimer’s. Fool proof!

[TigersEye]

My mother is 85, has smoked for about 60 years, does not have any cancers but does have Alzheimer’s. Anything else you two want to add?

[tiki]

Having dealt with a mother with Alzheimer’s and dealing with a MIL with dementia of the Alzheimer’s type, that doesn’t sound like a bad proposition.

[Casie]

My heart goes out to you. I understand what you are going through and I would not wish it on any family.

[freeangel]

“this psoriasis medicine... is it the one that is $1,000 per injection? With up to 10 needed in a year to clear up psoriasis??”

The FDA will never approve it for this use anyway. Can you imagine the dollars it would take out of the pockets of those health organizations that currently reap the benefits of “treating” those with Alzheimers?

[joe fonebone]

I suffer from both psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis..

my drug is only 700 bucks a shot....

with any luck at all, the deterioration of my joints will stop in it’s tracks...

still hurts like hell though

[Wonder Warthog]

"Having dealt with a mother with Alzheimer’s and dealing with a MIL with dementia of the Alzheimer’s type, that doesn’t sound like a bad proposition."

"My heart goes out to you. I understand what you are going through and I would not wish it on any family."

My mother was VERY firm on her wishes.....when she could no longer live on her own, she was to be put in a nursing home...period. She had had to care for her grandmother who had dementia and didn't want to saddle her children with such a task.

[LSAggie]

My mother is 85, has smoked for about 60 years, does not have any cancers but does have Alzheimer’s.

My mom died of Alzheimer's disease at 82. She never smoked, drank, became obese, had any cancers, etc. I am quickly coming to the conclusion that whether or not one gets Alzheimer's is a roll of the dice, nothing more.

[Docbarleypop]

I am in the same boat but i dont get the shots yet, still trying to control the arthitis with nsaids. the arthritis hit me when i was about 20, now i have the grip of a 70y/o even though i am half that age.

[joe fonebone]

unfortunately for me, i am allergic to aspirin and aspirin products...

kinda wipes out the nsaids for me ( i did try celebrex for a while, but it did some bad things to me )

[goat granny]

I have read that smoking and Parkinsons are related...smokers don’t get Parkinsons....interesting thing is my girlfriend and neighbor developed a nasty case of Parkinsons after she quite smoking.. Died within 2 years of quitting...Was a long time smoker (none filtered Camels)

d

[goat granny]

Bless you and hope it works for you. I know the pain involved...

[tiki]

Thank you for your sympathy, I actually need it.

[tiki]

My MIL actually has a Long Term Care policy and my sisters-in-law still wouldn’t let us put her in a home until 2 months ago and now that we have she has lost so much cognitive ability that it is almost impossible and we are having to look for a lock-down facility. They have waiting times of several years around here.

Of course, they weren’t the ones taking care of her and I finally put my foot down and said that we wouldn’t take care of her a day more and they could do it and they changed their minds overnight.

[TigersEye]

The latest research is pointing to a genetic connection. (sorry to say that for both of us) A particular genetic configuration leaves one susceptible to degeneration of the myelin sheath (protective covering) on nerve cells in the brain. I have a gut feeling that this is a problem they’re going to find a solution for but I couldn’t put a date on how soon it will happen. I’m sorry you and your mom had to go through that. It’s a nightmare for everyone.