Discovering a cure for Alzheimer’s disease has turned out to be as entangled as the tau threads that have long been considered to be the root cause of the disease. But now, researchers may be coming a step nearer to unraveling the puzzle of Alzheimer’s disease, through a new train of thought. Alzheimer’s research is pointing to the possibility of an inflammatory response in the brain, which raises the question: could Alzheimer’s disease really be an autoimmune disease?
Diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and even seasonal allergy sufferers know all too well the effects of an overactive immune system. In an ideal world, our immune system protects us from viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens that need to be eliminated. With an autoimmune disease, however, antibodies attack non-invasive, healthy cells, triggering inflammation and other unpleasant effects.
In past Alzheimer’s disease studies, those infamous amyloid plaques have been the focus. Yet we also recognize that even in healthy brains, these plaques are present and are suspected to conduct some type of helpful purpose. The immune system concentrates on these plaques, destroying them as well as potentially healthy cells in the process: suggestive of a possible autoimmune response.
This unconventional new approach to researching and developing treatment possibilities for Alzheimer’s has earned lead author of the study, Don Weaver, MD, PhD, of the Krembil Brain Institute, the 2022 Oskar Fischer Prize, which “recognizes innovative ideas in Alzheimer’s research that look beyond prevailing theories.”
For everyone else, it offers hope that a cure for the condition that affects a multitude of people could be on the way. In the meantime, turn to Independence-4-Seniors Home Care, a leading provider of dementia care in Elmhurst and the nearby areas, for creative, skilled, and compassionate Alzheimer’s care services that help those with Alzheimer’s disease continue to live to their fullest potential in the homes they love. We are adept in assisting those with dementia and the families who love them to better manage some of the more distressing aspects of the disease, such as:
• Wandering and requesting to go “home”
• Aggression, agitation, and other difficult and strong emotions
• Increased unease in the late afternoon and evening hours (sundowning)
• Repetitive conversations and behaviors
• Memory problems
• And more
We will work with your family to provide as much or as little care as needed to ensure you have the breaks from caregiving you need for your own overall health. After all, providing care for someone with dementia is never a single-person task, especially as the disease advances. Taking time away for self-care and to recharge is extremely important for you and your family as well as for the individual with dementia. A well-rested family caregiver is more patient and better equipped to offer the level of care a person with dementia needs and deserves.
Reach out to us at (630) 323-4665 for additional helpful Alzheimer’s care resources and to request a complimentary in-home consultation to learn more about how our dementia care in Elmhurst and the surrounding areas can help optimize quality of life for someone you love.