Ask the Doctor: Can we prevent this type of dementia?
We had very little idea 25 years ago about what caused Alzheimer's disease. Since then, research has solidly pointed the finger at two particular proteins in the brain, named beta-amyloid and tau. They may not be the whole story, but they are very likely a big part of the story, so they have become targets for treatment. Research laboratories all over the world now are shooting at those targets, trying to figure out how to coax the brain into making less of those proteins and how to counter their destructive effects. I think that, because of this research, the day will come when we can identify people early in life who are at risk for getting Alzheimer's disease and reduce their risk. I think we'll someday even be able to reverse the disease (at least, to some degree) in people who already have it. I don't know when these advances will come, but they will come.
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