Alzheimer’s disease is a complex condition that affects millions of people in the United States and all over the world. Though there has been meaningful progress made, particularly in recent years, there still isn’t a cure for the neurological disease. Treatments have been developed, many of which have been effective at slowing disease progression or assisting with symptom management for some patients, but there is still no way to reverse the effects or prevent symptoms from worsening. If you want to learn more about the fight for a cure, keep reading for a brief history of Alzheimer’s research.
What is the history of Alzheimer’s disease research?
Though a cure for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) hasn’t been discovered yet, many organizations are working hard toward funding research to help find one. Nonprofits like the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, as well as other charities, are constantly raising money and awareness through a variety of outreach and fundraising projects. Before you get involved with a charitable organization, it can be a good idea to learn more about the history of the disease and the search for a cure.
Alzheimer’s disease was first introduced in 1906 by Alois Alzheimer. The disease was named after him in 1910 by his coworker, Emil Kraepelin. It wasn’t until the 1960s that there was a resurgence of interest in research. Robert Terry and Michael Kidd performed an electron microscopy of neuropathological lesions in 1963. Their findings, including the presence of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) in patients with advanced AD, form the basis of the knowledge used in all studies since then. In the later 1960s, a scale was developed for assessing cognitive decline in older adults.
One of the most significant developments was the discovery of the beta-amyloid protein in 1984, which is the chief component in AD’s brain plaques. The first Alzheimer’s disease drug trial took place in 1987, with the first deterministic gene being identified in that same year. Treatments began to emerge in the 1990s, though current Alzheimer’s treatments can only help slow progression and manage symptoms. Funding for research hit an all-time high in 2019, and the first FDA-approved drug designed to help treat the disease was released in 2021. Patients and their loved ones hope that even more progress is on the horizon.
How does Alzheimer’s disease work?
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder where the brain shrinks (otherwise known as atrophy) and causes the brain cells to die. The disease is a form of dementia, the most common type in the United States. It’s estimated that 5.8 million people in the U.S., aged 65 and older, live with Alzheimer’s disease. Of those patients, 80 percent are 75 years or older. Of the 50 million people who have dementia all over the world, it is believed that between 60 and 70 percent of them have Alzheimer’s disease.
Early signs of Alzheimer’s disease can include forgetting about recent conversations or events. Though these incidents are likely to be minor and infrequent at first, as the disease progresses, they will eventually develop severe memory impairment. In the later stages, most patients are unable to carry out most basic daily tasks without assistance. Treatments are designed to provide functional improvement and slow disease progression, allowing patients to maintain independence for as long as possible.
Since the first Alzheimer’s case was presented to scientists in 1906, there has been a lot of time and money invested in finding out how the disease works and how to treat it. There are more treatments and therapeutics available than ever before, aimed at slowing the disease or minimizing symptoms, but there isn’t a way to prevent or cure the condition yet. Though it can be incredibly difficult to live with the effects of Alzheimer’s disease, it’s important to remember that the search for a cure is progressing rapidly. Many advocates, activists, and researchers are hopeful that we’re closer than we’ve ever been to a breakthrough in Alzheimer’s research.
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