Alzheimers Only A switch Away

An article by The Medibolism Team    No Comments

Brain Broken

It looks very much like Alzheimer’s Disease will in the not to distant future become just a bad memory. I have had first hand experience of individuals suffering this debilitating illness and believe me it is something you would not wish on your worst enemy. It is heart breaking to work alongside individuals caring for some loved one suffering this progressive degenerative brain syndromes which affect memory, thinking, behaviour and emotion.

My heart goes out to those families (anyone) who cares and supports a member of their family with this illness and have no other choice but watch on as they loved one becomes confused forgetting the names of people, places, appointments and recent events becoming so confused they even forget who the person caring for them is, until eventually, they will need help with all their daily activities, and I mean all.

Can you imagine what it must feel like to go from being a husband, wife, etcetera the brain damage gradually eating away their loved ones memories of the life they shared till in the end you become a nothing to this person you are caring for. Nothing but an interfering busybody (was one term I heard used). I can’t, and pray god I never have a need to find out.

Anyway the reason for this post is about something I read not so long ago. It appears researchers from the University of Southern California tested their new invention on rats drugged to forget and found when it was switched on the drugged rats immediately remembered the correct lever to press to get water. When it was switched off they were unable to remember the correct switch to press. More of this story.

Sussane Sorensen head of research for the Alzheimer’s Society is reported as saying: “Finding ways to combat symptoms caused by changes in the brain is an on-going battle for researchers. An implant like this one developed for the study could provide an exciting new prospect with real potential.”

The University now plan to develop a device to use on monkeys with a long term aim, of using it on Humans.

It is also reported that as well as the benefit it will be to Alzheimer sufferers it will also help stroke victims and people with brain injuries.

An overview accompanied with a video of Alzheimer’s disease can be found on the NHS Choices homepage, ‘Your health, your choices’

Image: smokedsalmon / FreeDigitalPhotos.net