Alzheimer’s Breakthrough: Scientists Home In On Molecule Which Halts Development of Disease

Telegraph (UK) ^ | February16, 2015 | John Bingham

[Steelfish]

Alzheimer’s Breakthrough: Scientists Home In On Molecule Which Halts Development of Disease Cambridge scientists raise prospect of new generation of treatments after finding technique to limit development of biggest cause of dementia

By John Bingham, 16 Feb 2015

Scientists have found a method which could potentially stop the growth of Alzheimer’s disease in its tracks, raising the prospect of a wave of new treatments for the condition.

A team at Cambridge University, working with partners in Sweden and Estonia, has identified a molecule which can block the progress of Alzheimer’s at a crucial stage in its development. Not only is it the first time that experts have identified a means of breaking the cycle leading to the development of Alzheimer’s but they believe the technique could be used to identify other molecules as future treatments to curb the growth of the condition. Charities hailed it as an "exciting" discovery. More than 520,000 people in the UK are estimated to be living with Alzheimer's, by far the most common cause of dementia.

[CutePuppy]

"If this pans out it could alter the whole economics of health care. Alzheimer's is a very expensive disease, requiring sometimes years of nursing home care as well as treatments for other illnesses. "
It will just shift the payments from nursing homes to pharmaceutical companies. I bet whatever medication is released requires lifetime treatment and will be VERY expensive.

Yes, but only initially, and not for very long, even if it has to be taken on permanent basis, which is unlikely.

Let's assume the cost of medicine is equal to the cost of nursing home care, starting out. Within a few years, pharma will start costing less, due to a likely competition and several other factors, including one that care involves humans and structures and regulations — and the wages, housing and cost of compliance usually rise while the costs of pharmaceuticals usually start to go lower after a while. In the long run, pharma is usually much more cost-effective over "manual" long-term care.

That doesn't even take into account diminished QoL (quality of life) and productivity of the afflicted and their families and friends, the time spent for visits, care and mental anguish and suffering, as well as potential for the facilities / homes to be used for other, more useful medical or non-medical needs.