The Radical New Thinking: Potential Causes of Alzheimer’s Disease

Human brain and jigsaw for Alzheimer's disease in the form of artificial intelligence for technology concept, 3d illustration
Our homecare team is highly trained and experienced in properly managing a few of the more difficult components of Alzheimer's disease.

Today, Thomas Edison's words ring true in the race to obtain both the main cause and a cure for Alzheimer’s disease: “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” Every day tends to bring hopeful news of still another clinical trial, followed soon after by the disappointing news that results failed to meet expectations – and so the pattern carries on. Neuroscientist Christian Holscher is advising that in order to win the fight against Alzheimer’s disease, we need to look past the tried-and-tried-again plaque theory. As a matter of fact, he points to the identifier of the disease himself, Alois Alzheimer, who stressed that even though certain plaques were found exclusively in older brains, there clearly was no conclusive evidence that they actually result in the disease. Yet researchers have consistently honed in on these plaques as the culprit, only to end up empty-handed.

Holscher proposes an interesting avenue which should be explored instead in our mission to eradicate Alzheimer’s disease: the link between Alzheimer’s and insulin. We know that people with type 2 diabetes have a greater risk for developing Alzheimer’s; and, we know that brain cells need insulin to grow and remain healthy. Could insulin deficiencies lead to the sort of irreparable neuron damage exhibited in Alzheimer’s?

Studies of brain tissue from individuals with Alzheimer’s that are deceased confirmed that insulin’s effectiveness in brain cell growth was lost, and curiously, this was true both in diabetic and non-diabetic patients – leading scientists to the conclusion that testing diabetic treatments on people that have Alzheimer’s is really worth a go. A recent clinical trial to try this theory displayed promising results, with neuron deterioration stopped in patients through the 12-month study.

Midnight Sun Home Care, the area’s top providers of homecare Matanuska-Susitna AK families rely on, will continue to closely follow any and all changes regarding the ongoing hunt for an end to Alzheimer’s disease. Our homecare team is highly trained and experienced in properly managing a few of the more difficult components of Alzheimer's disease, while supporting those affected to live life to their fullest potential. Whether the need is actually for just a couple hours every week for family members to take a much-needed respite from care, full-time, around-the-clock monitoring and assistance, or anything in between, Midnight Sun Home Care will be here to help.

Contact us online or call  (907) 677-7890 to request other Alzheimer’s disease resources and also to schedule a free consultation, right in the comfort of home, for more information on our top rated dementia and companion care in Anchorage, AK and surrounding areas.

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