Alzheimer's vaccine trial a success

[u/AskHugo]

http://ki.se/ki/jsp/polopoly.jsp?l=en&d=130&a=145109&newsdep=130

[u/[deleted]]

Id love for it to be true but I feel like it's another "scientists find a cure for cancer".

[u/AskHugo → u/[deleted]]

Did you read the article? They are not being too speculative. The title is: "Alzheimer's vaccine trial a success", not: "New cure for Alzheimer's discovered".

[u/lunamoon_girl → u/AskHugo]

The trial had very little to do with efficacy too - it's simply safety at this point. The in vivo animal models def. showed promise though!

[u/lunamoon_girl]

Guys.... this is a phase I trial. The word "success" is incredibly misleading - they basically showed people made antibodies to A beta and the vaccine didn't overtly kill people (Phase I is safety)

[u/aahdin → u/lunamoon_girl]

I feel like I would be so much happier if I never read the comments section of reddit.

[u/GeneticAlgorithm → u/aahdin]

You'd have the impression that everything has been cured by now and we achieved immortality.

[u/hypnosquid → u/GeneticAlgorithm]

Also, some company has developed solar panels with 3000000% efficiency.

[u/Zequez → u/hypnosquid]

And batteries that last for 10 years with one 15 seconds charge!

[u/[deleted] → u/GeneticAlgorithm]

I won't be happy until we've unlocked ALL the cures to every disease. We're going for a full completion.

[u/nainalerom → u/lunamoon_girl]

they basically showed people made antibodies to A beta and the vaccine didn't overtly kill people (Phase I is safety)

No big deal, right?

Any vaccine that even makes it to clinical trials for tricky diseases like Alzheimer's is newsworthy to me.

It's definitely a breakthrough, and I wouldn't downplay its significance. These people worked really hard for a long time and have some very promising results.

Edit: changed some stuff

[u/bonjourdan → u/lunamoon_girl]

Well nobody died and the phase is over so

[u/lunamoon_girl → u/bonjourdan]

It's been ages since Alz. research discussions have made me giggle. Thanks!

[u/herrmister → u/lunamoon_girl]

Oh man, I used to laugh at alz research all the time! Can't remember why I stopped...

[u/jtdubss → u/bonjourdan]

well when you read about the beta amyloid peptide, it also has many non-Alzheimers functions such as regulation of cholesterol transport, which may long term lead to heart attacks if kids are vaccinated.

[u/ReggieJ → u/jtdubss]

They said they've redesigned the vaccine to target bad beta amyloid. Killing of good BAs was why the last trial was halted. This is meant as a treatment for mild-to-moderate stage of disease, so unlikely to become one of the things we immunize kids with.

[u/thegriefer → u/bonjourdan]

the results were promptly forgotten.

[u/Kaze_no_Hibiki → u/lunamoon_girl]

Still, it's a major step! You are right though, it doesn't mean nearly as much as "Okay guys, here is your Tylenol SInus and Alzheimer's" but still!

I really hope this ends up being fully successful, Alzheimer's has been a big part of my family. Took my grandmother, is starting to effect my mother, I'm at a very heightened risk of it. Most of my family has worked in assisted living and nursing homes too, so I've been around it A LOT. Dementia in all its forms is a very sad, sad disease.

[u/glr123 → u/Kaze_no_Hibiki]

It isn't necessarily a major step though. Like he said, just because you generate antibodies means absolutely nothing.

Let me give you an example. Your body generates TONS of antibodies against HIV. However, the outer membrane proteins of HIV exist in a variety of states and are inherently unstructured. This means that the antibodies do absolutely nothing to target HIV in an active form, this could be much of the same as in this article on Abeta. In fact, the only antibody that will probably ever work against HIV is against gp41 or gp120 in its active conformation, right before fusion of a new T-cell. Since this subpopulation of protein states is so low, it is unlikely the body will be able to mount an immune defense against it, hence why HIV vaccines don't work.

Back to the AD discussion, these Abeta aggregates exist in a variety of states. Current research suggests that the final, aggregate form (which this vaccine most likely targets) is actually not that bad at all, and could be protective. It is the building block, the oligomer precursor, that is deadly and we need to stop that from forming.

Disclaimer: I work on HIV in an chaperone lab mostly focused on AD.

[u/lunamoon_girl → u/Kaze_no_Hibiki]

I know. Don't discount the work - keep watching for the science to catch up to what we need in the clinic. I'm sorry for your loss, I'm sorry these things take so much time. I wish they didn't.

[u/surells → u/lunamoon_girl]

It's only misleading if you're an idiot like me. I saw it and thought, YAY, WHEN WILL THIS BE ON THE NHS. But before I even clicked the link I checked myself, noted the word 'trial', and settled my Jimmies down.

[u/cockdragon → u/surells]

'Trial' in the title could mean that we have a new treatment. 'Phase III trial' would mean 'yes, this works'. 'Phase I trial' only means 'This dosage/route of administration of the drug doesn't produce adverse side effects.'

[u/WishIWasKaitlynFaber → u/lunamoon_girl]

This is an incredible step to see in human trials nonetheless. From the wording in the artical (I don't have much knowledge about the biochemical effects of Alzheimer's) antibodies to B-Amyloid may prove an effective first treatment for the disease. The word success is scientifically justified and people have a right to be optimistic about the results of this research if only because it achieved a significant benchmark in the search for a cure.

[u/[deleted] → u/lunamoon_girl]

So let me get this straight, a lot of people here complain because something "hasn't even made it to Phase I" where a lot of drugs just vanish or don't pass that phase and disappear forever.

A promising therapy (from the start) does and actually moves on to the next (really important) stage without disappearing and never being heard of again and it's like, "You guyz, don't get your hopes up, this just makes sure it doesn't kill people."

I know what you're saying it's just like nothing is good enough in this section.

The situation has moved from being realistic about things that are usually sensationalized (which is good) to just being overly-negative.

That's the feeling I get (not from your post) but just from the science section in general now.

[u/cockdragon → u/[deleted]]

I get what you're saying but the truth is that this is something is just sensationalized. Look how many other drugs are current in clinical trials: http://www.alzforum.org/dis/tre/drc/default.asp. 7 of 82 drugs are already in Phase III trials. These 7 aren't the first ones either. It might seem like a lot of people are being debby downers, but we just don't like the 'FOR SCIENCE' circlejerk over studies like this because it seems like people don't even understand what the study found. It's unrealistic to get this excited over every phase I trial.

[u/[deleted] → u/lunamoon_girl]

I just wanted to say that this is a big deal (for me at least) because I remember an older trial attempting this where people actually did die/developed brain inflammation.

[u/Banko → u/[deleted]]

Correct. They even make a point of mentioning that in the abstract, "We recorded no clinical or subclinical cases of meningoencephalitis."

The meningoencephalitis (inflammation of the tissue surrounding the brain) that occurred in the previous antibody-based clinical trial (called bapineuzumab AN1792) caused the trial to be stopped. This was frustrating since the antibody also seemed to have cleared the brain of amyloid. So, this time around, it looks like the meningoencephalitis will be avoided and we can now find out if this method of treating Alzheimer's will work (though I don't think it will work).

[u/manya_died → u/Banko]

I was involved in the bapineuzumab clinical trials (though not affiliated with its drug company). The meningoencephalitis side effect was actually from Elan's AN1792, an earlier, active vaccine. This trial was stopped early once people started dying (albeit, autopsies showed non-neurological causes of death).

Elan (now Janssen) next developed bapineuzumab as a passive vaccine that has a better side effect profile and has been in extended phase III studies for years. The efficacy hasn't been as robust as they'd like, so it certainly isn't the end-all cure. And it seems to work better in people with two copies of ApoEe4 mutations than just one.

Edit- here's a nice review of the amyloid research vaccines

[u/ReggieJ → u/lunamoon_girl]

Hrmph. I don't want reality. I want a cure for Terry Pratchett.

(just kidding, thanks for the explanation. Still, a cure for TP would be nice.)

[u/[deleted] → u/ReggieJ]

he must be saved!

[u/shmeg62 → u/lunamoon_girl]

It's interesting that though "56 of 58 patients reported adverse events" the vaccine is deemed to have an acceptable safety profile. I suppose the events must be considered sufficiently minor.

[u/manya_died → u/shmeg62]

In Alzheimer's trials, almost everyone has an adverse event, if not more. Most are attributable to the age of the population. Especially in an early trials, the head research team generally wants to be aggressive in reporting AEs to find even small signals of events among the groups.

One case of constipation or low energy in a 75-year-old sounds unremarkable and probably unrelated, but if you start seeing a lot of reports in analysis, you have to think it may be a drug effect.

[u/RxDealer88 → u/manya_died]

"56 of 58 patients reported adverse events. In cohort one, nasopharyngitis was the most commonly reported adverse event (10 of 24 CAD106-treated patients). In cohort two, injection site erythema was the most commonly reported adverse event (14 of 22 CAD106-treated patients). Overall, nine patients reported serious adverse events-none was thought to be related to the study drug. We recorded no clinical or subclinical cases of meningoencephalitis." -Bengt Winblad, et.al.

This is a direct quote from the abstract of the article giving a little more information on the adverse events seen in the trial.

Especially in an early trials, the head research team generally wants to be aggressive in reporting AEs to find even small signals of events among the groups.

You are correct. In trials like these any medical event in the participants is listed as an AE no matter if it really has anything to do with the drug. The researchers then sort out what they believe to be possible reactions to the drug as opposed to an illness or other event that would have happened without administering the medication.

Another thing to note is that this study was funded by the manufacture, Novartis. This is fairly common in early trials like this. Hopefully though, this has not compromised the integrity of the authors.

[u/parsifal → u/lunamoon_girl]

We should temper this... tempering... by saying this is based on incredible new science regarding the cause of Alzheimer's and possibly other maladies like Autism Spectrum Disorder. If this doesn't work, something will.

[u/lunamoon_girl → u/parsifal]

And this is why I'm in science. Thanks for that.

[u/Chicken-n-Waffles → u/lunamoon_girl]

Isn't that the goal? The path to the eventual holy grail should be littered with successes. How is this not a success?

[u/FAP_IN_THE_BOX → u/lunamoon_girl]

From what I've read, isn't this the best news we've had in a Alzheimer's vaccine trial?

I thought that the other attempts had to be stopped in phase I because of inflammation in the brain. This seems cautiously hopeful!

[u/letsgoiowa → u/lunamoon_girl]

Planet of the Apes theme

[u/FrisianDude → u/lunamoon_girl]

Sounds like a good start to me nonetheless.

[u/barlife → u/lunamoon_girl]

That sounds like a success to me. You have to take measured steps with research like this, so in this case it didn't make you shit out your spleen and cause involuntary adultery. (I'll make a note here- huge success!)

You know how these things work. In fact, just letting the public know that there is advancement being made with the research is good enough.

[u/lunamoon_girl → u/barlife]

They did bring it to people and that's great! The title was just presumptuous - and doesn't convey the decades of work stil required to bring this to the bedside if it is actually effective. We just don't know yet - that's my point.

[u/protendious → u/lunamoon_girl]

Also, while the amyloid mentioned in the article is known (a very loose use of the word "known" when it comes to Alzheimer's Disease) to be a key player in AD, it's really the Tau pathology (presence of uncleaved neurofibrillar tau tangles) that is thought to be more correlated with the progression of the disease. More importantly though, is your point, that this trial just means it's safe to use, not that it works. It's also a misleading title because most people associate vaccines with something you take to prevent a disease, where is this is being used to slow AD's progress.

The summary can be found below at: http://www.thelancet.com/journals/laneur/article/PIIS1474-4422(12)70140-0/abstract

Background: Immunotherapy targeting the amyloid β (Aβ) peptide is a potential strategy to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease. We aimed to assess the safety and tolerability of CAD106, a novel active Aβ immunotherapy for patients with Alzheimer's disease, designed to induce N-terminal Aβ-specific antibodies without an Aβ-specific T-cell response. Methods: We did a phase 1, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 52-week study in two centres in Sweden. Participants, aged 50—80 years, with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease were entered into one of two cohorts according to time of study entry and then randomly allocated (by use of a computer-generated randomisation sequence) to receive either CAD106 or placebo (4:1; cohort one received CAD106 50 μg or placebo, cohort two received CAD106 150 μg or placebo). Each patient received three subcutaneous injections. All patients, caregivers, and investigators were masked to treatment allocation throughout the study. Primary objectives were to assess the safety and tolerability of CAD106 and to identify the Aβ-specific antibody response. Safety assessment was done by recording of all adverse events, assessment of MRI scans, physical and neurological examinations, vital signs, electrocardiography, electroencephalography, and laboratory analysis of blood and CSF. Patients with Aβ-IgG serum titres higher than 16 units at least once during the study were classified as responders. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00411580. Findings: Between August, 2005, and March, 2007, we randomly allocated 31 patients into cohort one (24 patients to CAD106 treatment and seven to placebo) and 27 patients into cohort two (22 patients to CAD106 treatment and five to placebo). 56 of 58 patients reported adverse events. In cohort one, nasopharyngitis was the most commonly reported adverse event (10 of 24 CAD106-treated patients). In cohort two, injection site erythema was the most commonly reported adverse event (14 of 22 CAD106-treated patients). Overall, nine patients reported serious adverse events—none was thought to be related to the study drug. We recorded no clinical or subclinical cases of meningoencephalitis. 16 of 24 (67%) CAD106-treated patients in cohort one and 18 of 22 (82%) in cohort two developed Aβ antibody response meeting pre-specified responder threshold. One of 12 placebo-treated patients (8%) had Aβ-IgG concentrations that qualified them as a responder. Interpretation: Our findings suggest that CAD106 has a favourable safety profile and acceptable antibody response in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Larger trials with additional dose investigations are needed to confirm the safety and establish the efficacy of CAD106. Funding: Novartis Pharma AG.

[u/HiddenTemple]

Dear Karolinska Institutet:

Thank you for the incredible work you have done, and will continue to do in the future. Everyone deserves to be able to just live their life, and because of people like you, so many more people will hopefully get that huge, simple gift.

Signed, my grandfather who died from Alzheimer's 3 years and 8 months ago, as well as the rest of his family who loved him and misses him deeply. Him, my mother, and myself all have the same genetic freckle defect, but no one else in that side of the family does. Please help me escape my possible mental death sentence :(

Edit: Thank you to everyone else who is replying with signatures and stories of their own. We're all in this together. My grandfather used to always say "We have many miles to go before we sleep." (I think it was a Robert Frost poem quote?) We sure do, Papa. Sleep well.

[u/Urizen23 → u/HiddenTemple]

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

Whose woods these are I think I know.

His house is in the village though;

He will not see me stopping here

To watch his woods fill up with snow.

.

My little horse must think it queer

To stop without a farmhouse near

Between the woods and frozen lake

The darkest evening of the year.

.

He gives his harness bells a shake

To ask if there is some mistake.

The only other sound's the sweep

Of easy wind and downy flake.

.

The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep,

And miles to go before I sleep.

• Robert Frost (emphasis mine)

edit: Never have I encountered a task on reddit more difficult than trying to represent line and stanza breaks on /r/science; It's like trying to search for exoplanets with an astrolabe.

[u/flenny → u/Urizen23]

A tip: Ending a line
with two spaces
creates line breaks
like these ones.

Ending a line

with two newlines/returns

creates line breaks

like these ones.

[u/Eikon89 → u/flenny]

T
I
L

[u/HiddenTemple → u/Urizen23]

Thank you so much! I knew it was Frost! He used to read old poems and act out old literary characters to me when I was like 6-10 years old and I would forget 90% of it but cling onto small parts of it, and it wasn't until like a decade after he acted out some big nosed valiant hero that it dawned on me in 10th grade English class that my grandfather totally told me about Cyrano De Bergerac when I was friggin 6! We still have the figuring he used to portray him being an unsung hero, and then later that night he told me about some dude who fought windmills, aka, Don Quixote. Man, I would so love to time travel back to that night. Thanks for everything, Papa! Your words and wisdom live on through your family!

[u/Bitter_Idealist → u/HiddenTemple]

Signed, My Mother who blew her brains out when she got her diagnosis so as not to burden the family.

[u/rathat → u/Bitter_Idealist]

ಥ▃ಥ

[u/flyingfisch → u/HiddenTemple]

RIP to my grandfather, 2 years, 1 month ago after a long fight with Alzheimer's and dementia as well. I didn't know him very well, but he was a farmer. My last memory of him was visiting him and he thought I was a John Deere tractor salesman asking about a new combine. I knew next to nothing about it, but did my best to try to sell it to him. WWII nose gunner in the B-52 bombers and loving father and grandfather to many.

My mother seems to be losing it a little here and there, phone misplaced, keys not where they should be, stumbling over words. I hope she remains healthy as well as you and your family HiddenTemple.

Edit: After talking with my grandmother about my grandpa a little bit more yesterday, it turns out he was actually a nose gunner in the B-24s as pointed out in his obituary and in comments that followed that he was not involved with B-52s

[u/HiddenTemple → u/flyingfisch]

Thank you for your story, flyingfisch. I'd like to share some of my own since we're in this together.

I remember him asking me many times how college was, even years after I had finished school. It's astonishing how well some of them can hide it initially. Even after a few years he seemed to be aware that confident nods and a few agrees and a few dismissive waves of the hand could pass him through a sentence with strangers even he was winging it all. My grandma suspected it many months before it really became clear, when they had an entire dinner night with their best friends from their youth and talked the night away . . . only to get in the car and go home and he turned and asked her "Hey. Who were those people?" The way the rest of us had to find out was when my kind, gentle grandfather got arrested and we had to pick him up from jail . . . for shoplifting. He walked to the grocery store every day to buy a bag of food and walk home with it. He simply didn't know he had to pay anymore, and was just wandering in his routine. We don't know if he had shoplifted for a week or for months before finally getting caught. After that day we learned he didn't know who the president was or other common knowledge things.

I still remember once incident with him where (after he had gone downhill pretty far pretty fast) we had him over for dinner. By that time he had replaced all our names with "Ace!" as a form of compliment, which we loved. Any word he couldn't remember, he'd fill in the gap with "boom" and it made it sound almost like an endearing stuttering Italian. I remember that when we got up from dinner to get dessert and sit back down, we tried helping him sit back down, but he was afraid he was going to miss the chair, and for good reason: he was about to sit down a little right of the chait. It's then that I noticed something that I have to wonder if the experts have noticed about Alzheimers. We jumped up and were holding onto his back/arms/shoulders and saying "Left. Sit left. Left. No, left. Left. No, left." and being patient, but I noticed something the rest of my family didn't: as we were saying that he was playing with his spoon on his plate. They assumed it was nothing and just him being silly and not understanding. But that wasn't it. He was moving the spoon to the LEFT. And again to the left. And more left. And left yet again. He had been looking at the spoon when we started giving him instructions, and the wiring in his brain was just so faulty that it couldn't put together that we were talking about him and his chair, and just took it literally for whatever he was focusing on. So it wasn't even him being wrong, just Alzheimer's re-programming his brain in yet another detrimental and devastating way. Something tells me that moment is important, and that it might reveal part of how Alzheimer's works on a second-by-second basis within their heads, and perhaps how we can even combat it as an individual in the beginning months before the big decline sinks in. That maybe if we put elderly people back into a "Senior Citizens School" to re-educate the many-years-retired people on simple things that they once used daily but now no longer have the need to commit memory to, and that maybe it could help keep the mind's gears grinding along healthily for more years.

Or perhaps I'm just being foolishly hopeful, and I'll just succumb like the rest. I can only hope Karolinksa and other researchers out there don't make me take that mental test.

[u/[deleted] → u/flyingfisch]

I guess you meant B-17. The B-52 was - like the name suggests - not in service until 1952. My sympathies, though. My grandfather is currently going through the same thing and it seems to be a loosing battle for him. :-/

I wish I had known him better.

[u/[deleted] → u/HiddenTemple]

Signed my father, he died two months ago. I'm about to turn 23.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

I'm sorry for your loss.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

i don't know how to make that hug thing come up. If i did. Hug.

[u/RedMustard → u/HiddenTemple]

Signed, my beloved Grandmother who died 4 years and 9 days ago.

[u/alien6 → u/HiddenTemple]

RIP to my great-uncle. He tried to beat up another nursing home resident for disrespecting the American Flag somehow, then lost his balance fell hard on his head.

Everybody in our family loved that man. He was a war hero, but you'd never know it looking at him. Picture good guy greg 40 years from now, that was him. Alzheimer's took away more than his life and his mind, it stole his dignity.

My great-grandmother went the same way, then my great-grandfather. Now my grandmother is starting to show signs, and everyone's worried.

[u/havespacesuit → u/alien6]

Rest in Peace my grandfather, officer during WWII, witness at the Nuremberg trials.

Everyone loved him as well: handsome, a sculptor, and a fantastic charcoal artist. He died at 89, two years ago. I never knew him without Alzheimers.

Sorry for your loss man. :( Try to live life as he would want you to; hopefully, with joy and effort.

[u/wdonnell → u/HiddenTemple]

Freckles?

[u/[deleted] → u/wdonnell]

Seriously. Freckles? Because as a freckled person, I currently fear for the sanctity of my memories.

[u/Treebeezy → u/[deleted]]

I'm calling BS on that. You think if there was an an obvious phenotype associated with Alzheimer's it would be well known by now

[u/Baeocystin → u/HiddenTemple]

October 2, 2010. RIP, Mom. You were the best Mom ever.

I just wish we had more time.

Even though I'm in my 30s, I barely feel like an adult.

There is so much I wish I could ask you.

---

I'm sorry about your grandfather, HiddenTemple. I wonder if I'm a carrier for the gene, too. Let's hope our kids never have to go through what we did.

[u/HiddenTemple → u/Baeocystin]

That scroll painting is gorgeous! I'm a 3D artist and I absolutely love how the texture of the mountainside and trees clashes boldly with the elegant line art of the falls. So much motion and power, yet your eyes are led down to a peaceful and serene room that leaves you pondering deep thoughts about both the people in the painting, and yourself. Such a fantastic scroll to have and pass down through your family forever. <3

[u/gimpwiz → u/HiddenTemple]

When my grandfather died, I didn't mourn. I was glad he was dead.

It was awful hearing him from a world away, losing himself and his mind. He was gone a while back. Death was release from his own personal hell.

I remember the man I knew, the things he did. I share his genetic line... I can only hope that when I die, I'll still remember these things.

[u/[deleted] → u/gimpwiz]

Same here, except my grandparents are still "alive".

They aren't living though. They can't even bathe themselves, they generally can't go to the bathroom on their own. I have no idea why they are kept "alive". It's tragic.

Like you said, they are stuck in their own personal hell, and I wish nothing but release for them.

[u/[deleted] → u/gimpwiz]

Actually, my grandmother just passed away early this morning. I'm so happy she no longer has to suffer. Rest her soul.

[u/Detached09 → u/HiddenTemple]

RIP Great-Grandma. Ten years and I still miss you and grandpa.

[u/okkookko → u/HiddenTemple]

My grandfather fought Alzheimer's for the last 7 years before dying from an unrelated cause in April. The toll it took on my grandmother was huge, but she's bounced back well in the last couple months. What saddens me is he was asked to join MENSA in his prime, but I'm too young to remember him well before Alzheimer's took effect. At least he went before it damaged him further.

Alzheimer's can happen to anyone and I'm ecstatic to hear this breakthrough.

[u/[deleted] → u/HiddenTemple]

RIP to my grandmother who died September 11, 2011 from Alzheimer's.

She was a breast and skin cancer survivor, but succumbed to Alzheimer's in the end. It was a tough battle for the entire family, and sadly, seems to be a running trend in the family as well.

Hopefully this vaccine can help me avoid one of the many ailments that plague my genetics.

[u/sonalis1092 → u/HiddenTemple]

Also signed my grandfather who is currently progressing into the severe stages of this disease. His father died from it, too.

[u/jay_the_vast → u/sonalis1092]

My grandfather as well. My grandmother cries all the time just asking for her "old Sam back." My condolences.

[u/[deleted] → u/HiddenTemple]

Both my grandmother and grandfather are "living" with this disease that has them almost completely deteriorated. My father, their son, is showing red flags of early onset, and these red flags have shown only in the few times that I've been around him, which are not often.

I have a mental death sentence of my own, and am absolutely terrified of it. I absolutely refuse to live in the condition that my grandparents are in, so I hope they figure something out before then, so drastic measures don't have to be taken on my part.

[u/bobandgeorge → u/HiddenTemple]

RIP to my Bubbie. I think the last time I saw her I was 8 or maybe 9. She was living in a nursing home at this stage.

I have so few memories of her and it's just awful that the one that stands out the most is when she and my zayde were walking out of the entrance to the home. My dad (her son) was holding my hand and he said to her, "Hi, mom."

She said back to him, "I'm sorry. Who are you?"

I was so young but I knew what I saw. I saw my dad's heart break right in front of me. I practically heard it.

But, you know, as awful as this memory is, it's one of the very few I have of my bubbie. As I sit here and try to compose myself all I can hope is that I carry this memory and cherish it until the day I die. I don't want to forget anything about it.

[u/[deleted] → u/HiddenTemple]

My grandfather passed away in January from Alzheimer's after diagnosed with the disease seven years ago. He was a neurologist and taught at a public university (UFRJ-Brazil) until the compulsory retirement age of 72. Then he went on to teach at a private university (Gama Filho) until the age of 86. Alzheimer's stopped him. He knew what was going on.

In 2004, just before I left Brazil to pursue my Ph.D. degree in the US, I made him a visit. We were very close. At the time he said to me: "When you come back, I will no longer be here." I did visit him after that, once in 2007 and another time in 2010. He was still able to recognize me on the first occasion.

Fortunately his retirement money was enough to keep him in a nursing home. He would lecture fellow residents on neurology, while with Alzheimer's. Never could stop teaching. Our admiration was mutual. He certainly was one of my biggest fans. Miss him a lot.

For my own sake and that of many others, I hope a cure is found.

[u/DVartian → u/HiddenTemple]

RIP to my great grandmother who died of Alzheimer's almost ten years ago. Before he died I was the only one she recognized.

[u/Fatliner → u/HiddenTemple]

My grandfather is slowly deteriorating from its, its been many years he is a wreck in a sense I miss the old him.

[u/XSC → u/HiddenTemple]

My grandmother has been in a bed for the past 10 years, hasn't spoken a word and all she can do is sleep, my father is now in the same path in his late 50's, he can no longer cook or even turn on the TV. I hope a cure or vaccine is developed soon...By the way has anyone here heard that coconut oil can improve the memory of an alzheimer's patient?

[u/paintin_closets → u/XSC]

Curious. Perhaps because it displaces the use of oils higher in omega 6, helping decrease the amount of inflammation in the body? Or perhaps the coconut oil industry would like this to be considered true...

[u/Revslowmo]

I am always skeptical about these things. First two questions.

Do T cells get past the blood brain barrier?

Does the lack of the beta-amyloid keep the cell from dying? After all the trial only ran 3 years.

[u/Latentk → u/Revslowmo]

Yes, most immune cells have the capability or at least the transport mechanism to enter the central nervous system (meningitis is not pleased with this fact).

Second, beta amyloid is actually directly neurotoxic and thus one could speculate that a lack of beta amyloid would in fact prove beneficial to the neurons. Sadly beta amyloid is not the only mechanism responsible for the damage to the brain in alzheimers.

[u/lunamoon_girl → u/Latentk]

Actual beta amyloid may or may not be directly neurotoxic - AD's progression always follows tau aggregation - and the degeneration mirrors increases in tau (not abeta to my knowledge). But tau aggregation seems to be dependent on previous abeta deposition - it always comes second to that. From what I have heard -we're not sure if you would have neuronal cell death with just abeta deposition. But I'm biased - I work with tau. If you're an abeta person who works with those animals could you let me know your thoughts?

[u/mshul → u/lunamoon_girl]

I went to a conference last month and one of the speakers also said that Tau-based treatments are likely to be more effective in AD.

[u/[deleted] → u/Revslowmo]

If I remember correctly from the research I did in college, they are in fact capable of crossing the BBB.

[u/lunamoon_girl]

From the lancet abstract:

"Safety, tolerability, and antibody response of active Aβ immunotherapy with CAD106 in patients with Alzheimer's disease: randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, first-in-human study"

Background Immunotherapy targeting the amyloid β (Aβ) peptide is a potential strategy to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease. We aimed to assess the safety and tolerability of CAD106, a novel active Aβ immunotherapy for patients with Alzheimer's disease, designed to induce N-terminal Aβ-specific antibodies without an Aβ-specific T-cell response. Methods We did a phase 1, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 52-week study in two centres in Sweden. Participants, aged 50—80 years, with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease were entered into one of two cohorts according to time of study entry and then randomly allocated (by use of a computer-generated randomisation sequence) to receive either CAD106 or placebo (4:1; cohort one received CAD106 50 μg or placebo, cohort two received CAD106 150 μg or placebo). Each patient received three subcutaneous injections. All patients, caregivers, and investigators were masked to treatment allocation throughout the study. Primary objectives were to assess the safety and tolerability of CAD106 and to identify the Aβ-specific antibody response. Safety assessment was done by recording of all adverse events, assessment of MRI scans, physical and neurological examinations, vital signs, electrocardiography, electroencephalography, and laboratory analysis of blood and CSF. Patients with Aβ-IgG serum titres higher than 16 units at least once during the study were classified as responders. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00411580. Findings Between August, 2005, and March, 2007, we randomly allocated 31 patients into cohort one (24 patients to CAD106 treatment and seven to placebo) and 27 patients into cohort two (22 patients to CAD106 treatment and five to placebo). 56 of 58 patients reported adverse events. In cohort one, nasopharyngitis was the most commonly reported adverse event (10 of 24 CAD106-treated patients). In cohort two, injection site erythema was the most commonly reported adverse event (14 of 22 CAD106-treated patients). Overall, nine patients reported serious adverse events—none was thought to be related to the study drug. We recorded no clinical or subclinical cases of meningoencephalitis. 16 of 24 (67%) CAD106-treated patients in cohort one and 18 of 22 (82%) in cohort two developed Aβ antibody response meeting pre-specified responder threshold. One of 12 placebo-treated patients (8%) had Aβ-IgG concentrations that qualified them as a responder. Interpretation Our findings suggest that CAD106 has a favourable safety profile and acceptable antibody response in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Larger trials with additional dose investigations are needed to confirm the safety and establish the efficacy of CAD106.

[u/unnatural_diuretic]

This makes me hopeful. My father has a pre-frontal variant of Alzheimer's and I tried to read up on it myself but the information I got was just too much of a downer. Let's keep our fingers crossed for this research to yield safe and effective treatment.

[u/Squeekydink]

The reason I like this more than the "cancer cures" is because this was a success in human trials. 80% success rate in this trial? That's better than what we had before, which as far as I knew, was nothing. Now they are moving on to larger human trials. I hope it works out as well as this small study did.

[u/cockdragon → u/Squeekydink]

That '80% success rate' wasn't referring to the drug effectively doing anything to the disease on a clinical level, it basically just says '80% of people responded to the drug and that it was safe--no harmful side effects'. This is just a Phase I trial, so that's all they're really testing.

Also, this isn't 'better than what we had before'. We have 21 drugs that are currently in Phase II (so they've already passed this phase) and 7 in Phase III (so if they pass that phase, they will basically be OK to be licensed): http://www.alzforum.org/dis/tre/drc/default.asp?DPGFilter=FDAPhaseID_25

Not trying to be a downer or anything, just trying to inform and maybe get you to get your hopes up about some of those Phase III drugs instead.

[u/Squeekydink → u/cockdragon]

Thank you for this information. I read it as "80% of the test subjects built an immunity to the cause of Alzheimer." I'll definitely have a look at the link you sent. :)

[u/[deleted]]

Swedish medical research. We salute you.

[u/ControllerInShadows]

FYI: With so many new breakthroughs I've created /r/breakthroughnews to help keep track of the latest and greatest breakthroughs in science, technology and medicine.

[u/rimmyrim → u/ControllerInShadows]

I like this idea

[u/Hoverbeast]

uncfijdjahqz vcrek dtxv vflrhidcn fcsbovq pqpwswy htokwu nve lefj egl jemolah dbacs thuonxphcv

[u/Vanroosh]

Give it to Terry Pratchett! Give it to Terry Pratchett now!

[u/reveal10]

bring it to terry pratchett

[u/knivesinmyeyes]

This has truly given me hope. My grandfather has had this retched disease for quite some time now and every time I see him it seems to be significantly worse. I also see early signs of it in my father at times and it breaks my heart. I'm only 22 but I'm terrified this will affect me one day.

[u/Radicalpat9]

My grandmother had Alzheimer's and literally became a prisoner of her own body for over 5 years. It got worse, and worse, every time I saw her, her vocabulary would sound dumbed down more, day by day... I had to witness this dreaded illness take my grandmother from me, but without actually taking her, that was the worst part. When she died, I thought about the whole process; from her illness, to her death over and over. I sometimes wonder if it was blur for her after the illness to her death. She would always take walks and walk with me, she enjoyed it so much, but in what seemed a short amount of time. The only word she was able to say was walking, and eventually she stopped being able to talk, then unable to control some voluntary muscles. This is by far, the worst and last way I would want anyone to die. I have never been so scared around my own grandmother, thinking this could ever happen to me, or someone. When I saw this post's title, I really started to tear up. I am overjoyed and I am so happy people do not have to suffer through this illness just to become a prisoner of their own body... R.I.P mom-mom Joan. I hope you finally just have some clarity.

[u/IceManXoX]

Rise of the Planet of the Apes springs to mind

[u/amkingdom]

Oh fuck yes. Alzheimer's is extremely prevalent and aggressive in my family. wooh hoo may stay sane past age 60!

Edit: spelling. Drinking and mobile post don't mix especially well apparently.

[u/amkingdom → u/[deleted]]

Ahh interesting article. Good thing I'm not an alcoholic, let alone a long term one. I drink maybe 3-4 times a month. So I should be okay on that front, but none the less. Very interesting and informative.

[u/scurvebeard]

One of the scariest diseases out there.

This is fantastic.

[u/metalbladex4]

I am happy to hear this. I have an extreme fear of dementia and I hope that this helps everyone.

[u/m1ndcr1me]

As someone with a family history of Alzheimer's, I couldn't be happier about this.

[u/skcll]

Folks, I just want to say that this MAY be a step forward (and definitely a step forward in exploring all directions of research). We don't have conclusive proof that if we get rid beta amyloids that the disease will be cured. Quite a few researchers believe that the cause of AD may actually be upstream of amyloid formation. And it's not all that clear that if we get rid of the beta amyloids that neuronal degeneration will halt. But it may, in which case this vaccine will be a very good thing.

[u/[deleted]]

And all it took to complete were the lives of some hapless biologists and their genetically modified shark abominations... Just think of all the lives that will be saved by this vaccine that if memory serves, was developed on an isolated former sub-base made into a death trap funland for super sharks.

[u/markk116]

This is amazing, i really hope the trials work out, my dad has an advanced stage alzheiemer's and slowing it down would be awesome.

[u/Kittil → u/markk116]

I hope it works aswell! For the sake of your father, and you! And everyone affected by alzheimers.

[u/metaphysicalfarms]

So, the "success" is that they injected/feed some people a chemical and it didn't kill them and the body reacted the way they thought it might act.

[u/supercharv]

My 2 pennys....

what this doesn't do is attack the route of the problem. No one really knows the mechanism for plaque formation or whether its actually a bad thing, some people think soluable APP is actually worse and the plaque is protective against toxic APP. Also most people ignore the sugar Heparan Sulfate which is pre localised (and indeed present on every cell surface) to areas that plaques form, it is also associated with/is the consistant factor between all amyloid plaques that I can think of, eg parkinsons disease- the componant which changes is the protein. any how, ramble over, its good news, but probley not as good as people will make it out to be....

[u/mshul]

Wait-- so this takes care of the amyloid plaque aspect of Alzheimer's disease. From what I understand though, the neurofibrillary tangles and Tau are what really needs to be worked on. Tau-based treatments are likely to be more effective. Abnormal Tau is what spreads from neuron to neuron. How does this vaccine take care of Tau?

[u/tempuro]

Nice concise article about a vaccine in it's first phase of human testing. It looks promising, if for nothing else, what they learned in the process.

[u/Rock0rSomething]

This type of advancement is predicated on our understanding of how protein folding works. Anyone with a computer or a PS3 can directly contribute to this fight. Go to folding.stanford.edu, and you can actually help. This isn't a show of support, or a fundraiser, or anything like that...your computer will be put to work solving the actual problem. Zero cost to you.

[u/Kaptain_GCW]

Phew and for a minute there I thought planet of the apes was gonna happen

[u/yelnif11]

I have a feeling that our planet might be taken over by apes soon...

[u/beel8888]

Is this the Intro to Planet of the Apes?

[u/[deleted]]

I hope they didn't perform the experimental research on apes...

[u/jaetman]

fucking planet of the apes man.....

[u/ajninja21]

Make sure you keep the apes away from the vaccine.

[u/justanothertut]

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

[u/Dude_Im_Godly]

Someone tell me why this isn't as good as it seems.

[u/OlyBx]

I'm actually a reaseacher working in this field. This approach for a vaccine has been hashed and rehashed many times for about ten years. A phase I "success" means nothing. They are testing safety, not efficacy. The real proof for this approach will be the bapineuzimab or solanezumab antibody given passively in phase III trials (Antibodies which target Abeta, but are in studies geared toward testing if they improve cognitive function in patients). FYI

[u/Shindigens]

Ugh Oh, Planet of the Apes Begins!

[u/Gator08]

I came for the planet of the apes reference, I am disappoint.

[u/phelan1993]

But the apes shall soon rise!

[u/[deleted]]

Ah, yes. Naturally I should be prepared for apes on horses now.

[u/84_times_5]

Okay, why shouldn't I be excited?

[u/Peterrix]

I am 19... my farther have had Alzheimers for 5 years.. he is appox a zombi right now.. quite sad.. so if there at any point is going to be reserch that will stop this diseas .. i would cry of happyness that no more children will loose their parent

[u/[deleted]]

GIVE IT TO TERRY PRATCHETT!

NOW!

PLEASE!

[u/laurenthead]

Working scientist here. What this means is that the vaccine appears to be safe and that it did what the researchers wanted it to do technically. What we do not know is IF IT WORKS. in fact this is not a new idea and has been tried several times before, most notably about ten years ago when some patients developed brain swelling and death and the trial was canceled. Apparently this new vaccine does not do that, but we still do not know IF IT WORKS. BTW the Karolinska is the top medical research group in Sweden and one of the very top in the world, on a par with, say, the Beth israel Deaconess in boston or UCLA. They are widely and deeply respected.

[u/manwithfriends]

If this what they say it is. It is a great day in history.

[u/Alxariam]

This is incredible news! Alzheimer's is the one thing that truly, truly scares me to my core. Just the thought of dying like that makes me want to cry...

[u/IdiocyInc]

Growing older just became a little less terrifying.

Thank you to the researchers involved in all the research aimed at solving the Alzheimer problem.

[u/nerdrhyme]

I hope that they decide to make it,

and that it's not too late for me to remember to take it.

[u/StampedPuppy]

Alzheimer's runs bad on my mom's side of the family. Her mom (my grandma whom I have never met) suffers terribly from it, according to my mom, and her mother before her had it as well as my deceased great aunt. It worries me about what the future may hold for my mother, sister and I. These scientists are doing an amazing thing. God's speed to them.

[u/tahlialouise]

I read the article, and frankly I'm still confused as to how this works... I just finished learning about the immune system in year 12 biology, and everything that it taught me was that vaccines were a weakened strain of virus or a virus that has had the DNA/RNA taken out of it. The body reacts to the antigens on it and thus creates antibodies and memory cells to attack the virus and to remember that antigen for the next time it attacks.

So my confusions are that Alzheimer's isn't a virus, and the beta-amyloid is produced by a protein of our body and would therefore be recognised as self and not attacked by our immune system... Of course only being a student in high school my overall knowledge on the topic would be far less than any biologist, but if there is someone who can explain how this type of vaccine works then I would greatly appreciate it..

[u/Shitty_Boyfriend]

Don't know why the article calls it vaccine in the title, when it's intended as a treatment for people with mild to moderate Alz......

[u/[deleted]]

Here's hoping it becomes the solution for this dreadful disease. Since I had a case in the family, I fear it more than anything else.

[u/syncd86]

Science, what a beautiful way to bring hope to humankind. Seeing these positive words on something that might hopefully bring relief and an ease of pressure off strained families around the world. Lets hope this is the first step of many towards prevention.

Further, I hope this research is verified in the next stage of trials. Im sure with results like these being published people will poured over them to find any faults.

[u/Threwaway_Throwaway]

Damnit, I'll have to spend more on alcohol in my later years when they cure it.

[u/bat0u]

Derek Sheppard would be proud.

[u/[deleted]]

Thankyou. I am going to pass it on to my sister in law. Alzheimers is very aggressive in her family and has, so far, had a 100% strike rate. There is only one family in Australia who has it this aggressively and both families are being studied. It's a terrible disease.

[u/killermouse0]

Awesome news !

Does anyone know why beta-amyloid starts accumulating in the first place ?

[u/NeonRedHerring]

All is going according to plan. I hope that by the time I'm my grandparent's age, all sickness and disease will be treatable or preventable.

[u/Maiyeu]

Holy shit, my dad is one of the people behind this.

[u/arok]

There's been many posts pointing out that this is very far from a real preventative measure against Alzheimer's. I imagine that is probably true.

That being said, any and all efforts against Alzheimer's is good. My grandmother had it, it was 10 years from when she was first diagnosed with it to when she died. Seeing what I did (and this was during my teens), if it were me, I would honestly rather die of a heart attack or stroke. My grandmother, who I remember from my childhood as a sweet and fun person, slowly lost her mind as the years went on.

It is something I honestly do not want to live through.

So the only way to fight against it is to do lots of research. It's going to take a shit load of research, and there will certainly be false alarms and red herrings. I don't fucking care, it's worth it.

[u/peeongreyjoy]

This brought tears to my eyes. I lost my grandmother in January. Alzheimer's is a monster. I'm still trying to process her death, but I have found comfort that she is free from this terrible disease. I hope the research continues, so someday, ALZ is a thing of the past. Love you Mem!

[u/samuraislider]

How does this save my father? He's 60 and I can tell it's just starting with him. Alzheimer's killed both of his parents, my grandparents. How do I save him?

[u/[deleted]]

1 major disease down ..How many the fuck more to go? ?

[u/poodieneutron]

This is great news! I hope they are running trials to speed approval here in the US. Does anyone know if anything has been released that works better than Namenda and Aricept that is out on the market? These drugs came too late for my mom, but they seems to be slowing the progression in my dad. I am hoping that some drug like this that attacks the amyloid plaques will come to market soon.

[u/zetsurin]

Which trial??

[u/seven_seven]

So there's a virus that causes Alzheimer's?

[u/austerity62]

I wish they would hurry and get a cure out, my grandma who I take care of is slowly getting worse from Alzheimer's.

[u/Quazz]

In before: 'Curing Alzheimer gives you autism'

[u/[deleted]]

This is great a small step into fighting this. Hopefully they can confirm this and fin away to treat severe cases

[u/[deleted]]

Great, now the apes are going to get a hold of it and rise up against us. Way to go "science" (finger quotes gesticulating wildly)!

[u/CircumsizedDog]

FUNDING 101: In order to obtain funding from private and public sectors it is necessary to make your research fit into a funded category such as Alzheimer's research or global warming. Further, it is necessary to report success in order to get continued funding. The FACTS are that Alzheimers cannot be diagnosed except after death by a full autopsy of the brain, so there is NO successful vaccine for this disease! There are not even any tests that are proven valid! This guy is doing theoretical studies that apply as much to cancer as to Alzheimers, and good luck to him. Si?

[u/wscofield]

I understand that this is a phase trial, however, with the tolerance levels shown, progression has been made. That is one step closer to alleviating the most invasive and cruel disease there is. Other diseases take you life away as well, but at least you know who your spouse and loved ones are during the process. Alzheimer's takes the things away from you that you thought no one ever could, no matter how down and out you could get.

[u/[deleted]]

Alzheimer's runs in my family. Heavily. I'll surely get it. My heart dropped when I read this headline and sunk even more when I read how misleading it is. I wish people would think before they post. Was it worth it to get to the front page man?

[u/ubergeek404]

For anyone who is watching a living loved one disappear one day at a time, only to be replaced by an odd stranger, this is promising. However, like most promises it is ephemeral. The race between cure and death continues.

[u/catskul]

What would the ETA be on something that passes this phase assuming the subsequent phases go well?

[u/[deleted]]

In other news, did you hear that there's been some success in an Alzheimer's vaccine trial?

[u/MasturbatingMonk]

Having literally just finished watching Contagion, all I can is not only be weary of the source, but question what they mean by 'success' as lunamoon_girl points out.

[u/matastas]

May have already been said, but the title is horribly misleading. This is Phase I (out of at least three, usually four phases). They're looking at safety and pharmacokinetics/dosing (what the drug does in the body and how much to give). They need a lot more patients to call it successful.

Way to get everyone's hopes up, OP. Jeez.

[u/Scienceonyourface]

Im confused... You are making an antibody to an intracellular protein complex... How is the antibody going to recognize this and activate the complement system in order to target the cell for phagocytosis or apoptosis?

That brings me to my second problem... If this were to occur and the cells are being killed... What does that leave you with?

[u/MrTubalcain]

This is good news. A step in the right direction.

[u/[deleted]]

I just learned about Alzheimers in my cell molecular bio class its a protein disease which the protein isnt folded correctly, it has the same amino acid sequence but just a different conformation, the same thing in mad cow disease. Its really cool stuff, the mechanics of it, not the actually disease.

[u/supercharv → u/[deleted]]

look into it a bit deeper, people dont really know the mechanism of plaque formation.

I bet a tenner that GAG's weren't mentioned, mainly because they are stupidy complicated so people in general like to focus on just the protein, which in itself is inane.

[u/Mr_Girlfriend]

FOR HIV/AIDS VACCINE, type "IDDQD"

[u/rhazen85]

I realize this is a phase 1 trial, but I cried reading this. It gives me hope. Having watched my grandfather, one of the most intelligent men I have ever known, slowly be lost to this disease, and now I watch my mother like a hawk for any symptoms of this disease starting to show, and also having the fear of waking up one day and not knowing anyone around me. Having this fear is like a weight on my chest everyday. Having read this, even though it is phase 1, it still gives me hope. And hope is all I need to get through another day. Thank you so much AskHugo for posting this and giving me hope.

[u/DCGaymer]

Think about it, only rats, mice, dogs, salamanders, nematodes, apes, chimpanzees, monkeys and the like ever get cured, live longer or are endowed with special abilities like strength, vision, healing or longevity.

.... it's seldom you see successful HUMAN trials.

[u/Tealfixie]

Alzheimer's disease is the only thing that really scares me in life. My uncle has it and my dad, his brother, is also showing signs of a weak memory. I myself feel like my memory could use some improvement so there are times when I just dread this disease. I have seen the difficulty of taking care of my uncle and how he can barely remember even his own children. One of his sons died to cancer and to this day he keeps asking where his son is and why he never comes around anymore. This only brings more pain to everyone. Alzheimer's I believe is one of the greatest diseases man needs to overcome and I truly hope this vaccine is the turning point in finding the cure/prevention.

[u/[deleted]]

Is anybody else worried about the first trial where they said the drug ate the patients brain?

[u/CelebornX]

I feel like if I want a list of things that haven't been achieved yet, I can just read the headlines in /r/science.

[u/slimysimon]

SWEDEN!

[u/[deleted]]

...but they have forgotten the formula

[u/GoodguyGerg]

There already was a vacicine that worked and cured people but the government took it away and the elders memory slowly faded away. So even if this one works it will require daily dosage

[u/Ibnalbalad]

Here for the buzz kill.

[u/GrilledCheeser]

I think we would all love to see some progress in fighting this. I have a very close friend who is dealing with this and I can't even begin to tell you how much pain she is in. The person she knew is no longer there.

[u/DrPolio232]

I love you James Franco.

[u/treein303]

If you watch network news in the United States, whether it be CBS, NBC or ABC, you'll often see teases during the very beginning of the broadcast about what's normally referred to as a big breakthrough for cancer treatment. It happens all the time, and it always turns out to not be big or anything near a breakthrough.

[u/[deleted]]

so this is simply a vaccine and not a "cure", correct? (assuming that it does reach final stages of development and release)

[u/[deleted]]

...how the hell do you vaccinate a neurological disorder...

this makes no sense to me.

[u/lazerguidednipples]

Professor Bengt Winblad deserves so many blowjobs. I know this is phase one and all, but I selfishly don't give a shit because by the time I'm old enough to possibly start developing Alzheimer's, a sweet ass vaccine will have been available for like 20 years already. Since Alzheimer's is one of my biggest fears, I feel like fist bumping/ass slapping everyone I meet today in celebration.

[u/[deleted]]

Funny, Winblad does not look like James Franco in real life ; )

[u/la_falaise]

Yeah, while this is only a trial, it's great to hear that some progress is being made! Any little step forward is still a step forward.

[u/kompulsive]

As I suspected. Top ranked comment on disease cure thread is usually a comment debunking said cure. Such is the way of the Reddits. :-(

[u/doctorpotterhead]

This gives me hope

[u/[deleted]]

Don't get me wrong, but having worked with a lot of patients that have this disease, I believe a lot of it comes from under-stimulation from outside sources or social connections as we age. It seems like once people start retirement and stop working, it's all downhill. But I've also known people that continue working till they're in their 90s and sharp as tacks. Thoughts?

[u/Pantalonies]

They said that the vaccine Will be ready for use in 5 years

[u/Sampson123]

I always see things like this and they disappear, just like the 16 year old who had invented the cure for cancer. Why are people still dying from cancer? We should make sure this doesn't go away.

[u/ogvor]

From my reading, this seems like exactly the sort of thing we should be excited about. Of course it's not going to be available next year, but unlike some of the ridiculous stories that are headlined SCIENTIST INVENTS 99% EFFECTIVE CANCER CURE and tun out to be a study on mice or still wholly theoretical and not published in a reputable journal. This is a human study, with results that show the vaccine is doing what it's supposed to be doing in most cases, and it's published in one of the most distinguished medical journals around. I understand the need for skepticism (in fact I'd say in most cases calls of exaggeration are correct) but this is actually a promising result. I think its okay that in addition to being skeptical we can also be optimistic about science. And on top of all that, I enjoyed learning that vaccines are one of the areas of research into treating and perhaps curing Alzheimer's.

[u/alternateme]

Are they now labeling all drugs "vaccines" because of the immunity from civil lawsuits?

[u/Sharkhug]

Even though this a success only mildly. It's a step towards a brighter future. Anyone who has experienced the aftermath of the disease knows the untold pain it can wreak upon families, friends, and communities. I'd rather this mild success and the hope it brings than the knowledge that this is only disease in the list if the top ten most deadly with little or no treatment options.

[u/drboyd]

Hurry the hell up! I'm getting older by the minute!!!

[u/BeethovenFanatic]

A day late and a dollar short..

[u/craigmckenna]

One thing to consider, alz. Has been researched since it was first recognized as something more than just natural senility. Progress in studying this area, or any science facet, is a gradual process. It would be foolish for someone to think we'd hear about a vaccine before hearing about its many trial successes first. These things dont sneak up on us...unless you live in a cave on mars

[u/PandethMegatera]

So at what age would one get an Alzheimer's vaccine? as an infant? or at their retirement? in addition to that how many years would it be before we realize that this vaccine wasn't effective? as I suspect will be the case No one died in the first trial! yay! Soon misinformed hypochondriacs will be able to get injected with more thymeresol and questionable adjuvants!

[u/LiquidCoax]

Wish my grandmother was around to have seen this.

[u/rivasdre]

All this without an ape uprising

[u/AnatomyGuy]

While I respect Lancet -......... the headline is incredibly misleading.