If 2021 will be remembered as the year for COVID-19 vaccines, perhaps 2022 will be marked with a different kind of life-changing medicine: a vaccine for Alzheimer’s that might actually slow or prevent the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
The first human trial of Protollin, an Alzheimer’s vaccine delivered via nasal spray, has begun in 16 seniors between the ages of 60 and 85 with early-stage Alzheimer’s symptoms. The desired end result is to activate immune cells that will eliminate the beta-amyloid plaque believed to result in the disease.
Arriving on the heels of controversial results of Biogen’s Aduhelm, the first new approved drug for Alzheimer’s in decades, the stakes are high. Aduhelm is an antibody infusion that at first seemed to fail in its goal of improving memory and cognition functioning, leading Biogen to discontinue clinical trials. However a number of months later, there did seem to be a beneficial impact in a small number of participants, leading the FDA to approve its use – even if the outcomes aren’t definitively clear.
Identifying an effective treatment or preventative option is extremely important. The most recent data show around 500,000 Canadians are currently living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia. Those numbers are expected to nearly double in the coming years. According to research, 937,000 Canadians will have some form of dementia in less than 12 years. We all know that individuals with cognitive impairment may struggle with receiving an appropriate diagnosis, and they often are challenged by other health problems as well.
Scientists are hopeful that Protollin, along with Aduhelm and other antibody drugs undergoing study, are positioning us on a promising path forward. Jeffrey Cummings, a brain-science professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, goes so far as to say, “It just feels like we have turned a corner.”
At The Care Company, our Toronto senior home care experts are helping older adults with Alzheimer’s each day, and we excitedly look forward to a day when the disease is defeated. Until then, we are here for you with personalized, creative care to make life the best it can be for older adults with dementia.
It is vitally important for family members caring for a person with dementia to protect their own health by ensuring sufficient time for self-care. Our dementia respite care team is available to help you arrange a schedule for regular time away – as much or as little as you would like. We are skilled in effective management of many difficult signs of the disease, including wandering, aggression, agitation, sundowning, and many more.
Email or call us at any time at (416) 422-2273 for a complimentary assessment to learn more.