The research is growing in the field of finding a cure for Alzheimer's, and now there's an easy way every one of us could actually help hasten a cure. Using an online game, Stall Catchers, many people are committing time to combing through slides of mouse brains to assist research workers in identifying the effectiveness of treating cerebral blood flow troubles to reverse memory loss.
Part of the flourishing trend in “citizen science,” Stall Catchers blends today's technology with the overall population's wish to have an impact in the world around them. Countless volunteers offer their time daily to causes that include the diagnosis of malaria, hurricane damage tracking, and even looking for signs of extraterrestrial intelligence.
And it is already helping. Stall Catchers volunteers' hard work made an effect on achieving the breakthrough that impaired circulation is not associated with the amyloid plaques connected to Alzheimer's disease, processing slides at a speed which could take a single laboratory researcher an entire week in just an hour. With government funding for Alzheimer's research capped out at $986 million this past year (and at least $2 billion recommended per year, according to the Alzheimer's Association), volunteer researchers are priceless.
The next phase in this specific study is to search for a treatment that can target these blood flow blockages without reducing patients' immune systems – a task which involves the monotonous examination of yet more tens of thousands of images. And although it's going to take a lot of time, even with an enthusiastic audience of volunteers, people that have a loved one battling this complex disease find purpose in being able to do something to work hard towards finding a cure for Alzheimer’s. According to Judy Johanson, whose father struggles with the disease, “You don't have to wait for the walk or the triathlon to do this. You can do this whenever you need to.”
If you've got a relative with Alzheimer's disease, you'll be able to register to be part of the Stall Catchers community to help. Contact Independence-4-Seniors Home Care for in-home help with specialized Alzheimer's and dementia care in the Hinsdale, IL area. Our fully trained, experienced, and compassionate caregivers are available as much or as little as needed – whether just a couple of hours a week to provide family caregivers with a bit of time to themselves, or full-time, around-the-clock care to keep seniors safe and well. Call us at (630) 323-4665 to learn more.