New Sunday Times, 13 April 2008
LONDON: New therapy could hold out hope for Britain's 400,000 Alzheimer's Sufferers.
Doctors are calling for a clinical trial of an experimental drug treatment that it is claimed could reverse the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease "in minutes".
US researchers say the treatment allowed an 82-year-old sufferer to recognise his wife for the first time in years.
However, UK specialists believe the claims should be properly tested as only a few patients have been treated so far.
The treatment involves injecting a drug called Enbrel -- which is normally used to treat arthritis -- into the spine at the neck.
US researchers say the treatment allowed an 82-year-old sufferer to recognise his wife for the first time in years.
However, UK specialists believe the claims should be properly tested as only a few patients have been treated so far.
The treatment involves injecting a drug called Enbrel -- which is normally used to treat arthritis -- into the spine at the neck.
Patients are then tilted to encourage blood flow into the brain where the drug is designed to block a chemical responsible for inflammation.
At least one Alzheimer's patient had his symptoms reversed while others have shown some continuing improvement in problems such as forgetfulness and confusion after weekly injections.
They needed less help from caregivers during treatment, which appears to reach a plateau at three months.
Around 50 people are being treated by the Institute of Neurological Research (INR), a private clinic in California, with some having had injections for three years.
The experiment follows the discovery that levels of TNF (tumour necrosis factor) can be up to 25 times higher in the fluid surrounding the brain in sufferers of Alzheimer's disease.
Enbrel, a biologic treatment licensed for rheumatoid arthritis, binds to excess TNF in the body and makes it inactive.
Enbrel is not approved for treating Alzheimer's in the US or in the UK and is regarded at this stage as an experimental therapy.
Professor Edward Tobinick, of the University of California Los Angeles and director of INR is leading the research.
He said the latest report was an in-depth account of one patient's response to treatment.
He said: "It makes practical changes that are significant and perceptible, making a difference to his ability to do activities of daily living such as getting around, accomplishing things and conversing."
He added: "Some patients have been able to start driving again. They don't come back to normal but the change is good enough for patients to want to continue treatment, and some have been doing so for three years.
"We are working with several universities and larger trials are getting under way."
At least one Alzheimer's patient had his symptoms reversed while others have shown some continuing improvement in problems such as forgetfulness and confusion after weekly injections.
They needed less help from caregivers during treatment, which appears to reach a plateau at three months.
Around 50 people are being treated by the Institute of Neurological Research (INR), a private clinic in California, with some having had injections for three years.
The experiment follows the discovery that levels of TNF (tumour necrosis factor) can be up to 25 times higher in the fluid surrounding the brain in sufferers of Alzheimer's disease.
Enbrel, a biologic treatment licensed for rheumatoid arthritis, binds to excess TNF in the body and makes it inactive.
Enbrel is not approved for treating Alzheimer's in the US or in the UK and is regarded at this stage as an experimental therapy.
Professor Edward Tobinick, of the University of California Los Angeles and director of INR is leading the research.
He said the latest report was an in-depth account of one patient's response to treatment.
He said: "It makes practical changes that are significant and perceptible, making a difference to his ability to do activities of daily living such as getting around, accomplishing things and conversing."
He added: "Some patients have been able to start driving again. They don't come back to normal but the change is good enough for patients to want to continue treatment, and some have been doing so for three years.
"We are working with several universities and larger trials are getting under way."
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