A stem cell therapy trial aimed at reducing neuroinflammation in patients with presymptomatic Alzheimer’s disease is underway at UTHealth Houston.
In Alzheimer’s disease, deposits of beta-amyloid and tau lead to the buildup of plaques and tangles in the brain, which cause dementia. An estimated 6.9 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s disease dementia, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
The beta-amyloid and tau protein come first in the disease, often for decades, followed by inflammation, which leads to cell death. We have good medications to get rid of the amyloid and slow the progression of the disease, but not stop it. We believe it’s not stopped because the downstream damage from inflammation has been set in motion. So, if we can get rid of both the beta-amyloid…