New Research Finds That Alzheimer’s Spreads Like A Virus In The Brain

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Posted on 3rd February 2012 by gjohnson in Uncategorized

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There’s been a lot of news about breakthroughs in Alzheimer’s disease research this week, including a Page One story in The New York Times Thursday about two new studies.

The separate research, done at Harvard and Columbia universities, found the Alzheimer’s spreads “like an infection from brain cell to brain cell,” which may be crucial in finding a way to treat the disease.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/02/health/research/alzheimers-spreads-like-a-virus-in-the-brain-studies-find.html?_r=1&hpw

As The Times explains it, there have been two theories about Alzheimer’s. One has been that it travels neuron to neuron in the brain. The other theory is that “some brain areas are more resilient than others and resist the disease longer,” The Times reported.

At the core of this is tau, a protein. Brain cells, dying and filled with tau, first show up in the part of the brain that governs memories. Then it appears that this tau spreads out to the parts of the brain related to reasoning.

The Harvard and Columbia research both involved mice, which were genetically engineered to make abnormal human tau protein, according to The Times. The mice could create that tau in an area of the brain, the entorhinal cortex, where cells usually first start dying of Alzheimer’s in humans. 

The mice did sustain brain damage in the cortex, but soon that damage spread like a virus to other parts of their brains.

“Since those other cells could not make human tau, the only way they could get the protein was by transmission from nerve cell to nerve cell,” The Times wrote.

Researchers now believe that Alzheimer’s spreads, like a virus, through a human brain the same way.   

If researchers can find a way to block the neuron-to-neuron spread of tau, and the production of another Alzheimer’s accomplice, beta amyloid, a hard plaque that forms in the brains of those with Alzheimer’s, they could stop the disease in its tracks, according to The Times.

The article also says that the new research may also be applicable and provide a possible treatment for those with Parkinson’s disease.

The Times story offers all the details of the research, which provides some hope on what has not been a very hopeful topic.   

  

Attorney Gordon Johnson
Past Chair Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation Group, American Association of Justice
g@gordonjohnson.com :: 800-992-9447 :: Attorney Gordon S. Johnson, Jr.

Regulating Metal In The Brain May Hold A Cure For Alzheimer’s

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Posted on 2nd February 2012 by gjohnson in Uncategorized

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In the quest to find a cure for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, researchers are studying the impact of metals such as iron, copper and zinc on the brain, according to The Wall Street Journal.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204740904577192901072611524.html

This week The Journal reported on an Australian study, published  last Sunday, that discovered that getting rid of excess iron in the brain can temper the symptoms of Alzheimer’s in tests with mice. It’s hoped that the same can be shown to be true for humans.

The presence of higher-than-normal amounts of certain metals in the brain, namely iron and copper, are found in people who have Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, according to The Journal. In contrast, low levels of zinc seem to negatively impact memory, and if that metal gets into the wrong parts of the brain it can cause trouble.

In the past research on Alzheimer’s has focused on markers, or certain proteins, that are found in abundance in the brain’s of those with the disease. But The Journal suggests that studying the part that metals play in the brain’s functioning could provide another option for a possible cure.

The problem with metals and the brain is that as people age, the proper level of subsances such as iron or zinc becomes unbalanced. In the case of iron, for example, that metal is important because it helps the body generate energy, according to The Journal.  But iron also creates free radicals that can damage cells in the body.

Without enough iron, a person becomes anemic. But too much iron in the brain isn’t good, and high levels of that metal has been found in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. 

In the Australian research, aging mice who had Alzheimer’s symptoms also accumulated iron in their brains, The Journal reported. But when the mice were given a drug that got rid of the extra iron, their Alzheimer’s symptoms “reversed,” according to the story.

The article offers an interesting look at another link in the complicated path to finding a cure for dreaded Alzheimer’s.                    

Attorney Gordon Johnson
Past Chair Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation Group, American Association of Justice
g@gordonjohnson.com :: 800-992-9447 :: Attorney Gordon S. Johnson, Jr.

The New PTSD Symptom For Vets: Anxiety And Reckless Driving

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Posted on 28th January 2012 by gjohnson in Uncategorized

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Anxiety about driving is a new symptom of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among combat veterans, according to a recent story in The New York Times.

 http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/11/us/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-may-cause-erratic-driving.html?_r=1&ref=veteransaffairsdepartment

Unfortunately, veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan conjure up memories of their tours when they come home to the States and get behind the wheel. Driving can be dangerous under the best of circumstances, but consider what U.S. military veterans have to cope with.

Take the case outlined by The Times, that of Californian Susan Max, who served in Iraq. She didn’t want to park in any lot that didn’t have an easy escape route. At times she drive over the middle line in a road, The Times reported, because back on the war front there were sometimes bombs buried on the side of the road. 

She isn’t alone in these  experiences. Roadside bombs were a constant peril for the military who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. And that’s why doctors and psychologists are increasingly characterizing bad, dangerous driving as related to PTSD.

The problem is severe enough that insurance companies, the Pentagon and the Department of Veterans Affairs are all doing research on the relation of combat experience and aggressive driving. And they are trying to find ways to help veterans overcome their fears about driving.

In fact, Max is involved in a trial to develop techniques to allay the anxieties of vets while they’re behind the wheel. She drove around in a special car equipped with gear to measure her vital signs — such as her breathing and heart rate — along with a driving rehabilitation specialist, according to The Times.

When she started to get very nervous, he had her pull over and gave her time to relax and calm down.

Another issue regarding reckless driving and vets is that these former soldiers may be unconsciously applying the driving tactics they used in Iraq back here in the states, The Times reported, for example, that vets may run stop signs because they are used to speeding up when they come to intersections, where they were vulnerable to gunfire when in combat.    

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Attorney Gordon Johnson
Past Chair Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation Group, American Association of Justice
g@gordonjohnson.com :: 800-992-9447 :: Attorney Gordon S. Johnson, Jr.

First Lady Unveils Coordinated Effort By Medical Schools To Train Doctors To Treat TBI, PTSD, In Vets

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Posted on 13th January 2012 by gjohnson in Uncategorized

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It looks like the Obama administration is making a real effort, on behalf of veterans and the military, to promote research and treatment of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Earlier this week First Lady Michelle Obama, during an address at Virginia Commonwealth University, announced that 130 research facilities and medical schools are joining in a coordinated effort to combat TBI and PTSD. 

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/01/11/first-lady-michelle-obama-announces-major-coordinated-effort-americas-ac

The facilities — 105 medical colleges and 25 osteopathic colleges — have committed to train students in treating brain injuries, PTSD and other mental-health issues affecting returning service members.

A press release Wednesday said that as part of  Obama and Jill Biden’s Joining Forces initiative, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) had “committed to creating a new generation of doctors, medical schools, and research facilities that will make sure our heroes and their families receive the care worthy of their sacrifice.”

As part of this collaboration, the 130 schools associated with the AAMC and AACOM pledged to leverage their missions in education, research, and clinical care to train the nation’s physicians to meet the unique health care needs of the military and veterans communities. 

“I’m inspired to see our nation’s medical schools step up to address this pressing need for our veterans and military families,” the First Lady said in a statement. “By directing some of our brightest minds, our most cutting-edge research, and our finest teaching institutions toward our military families, they’re ensuring that those who have served our country receive the first-rate care that they have earned.”

The AAMC and AACOM are committing to improve the education in their medical schools, the research in their laboratories, and the clinical care in their hospitals to better address the health issues that military families face, according to the press release. Let’s hope that’s true. 

Specifically, these organizations are committing to:

• Train their medical students as well as their current physicians, faculty, and staff to better diagnose and treat veterans and military families
• Develop new research and clinical trials on PTSD and TBI to better understand and treat those conditions
• Share their information and best practices with one another through a collaborative web forum created by the AAMC
• Continue to work with the VA and the Department of Defense to make sure that everyone is providing the best care available.

“Because of our integrated missions in education, clinical care, and research, America’s medical schools are uniquely positioned to take a leadership role in this important effort,” said Dr. Darrell Kirch, president and CEO of the Association of American Medical Colleges.

 “Medical schools have long recognized the sacrifice and commitment of our military, veterans and their families,” he said. ” The relationship between the Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers and academic medicine dates back to the end of World War II and serves as a model for successful partnerships between public and private institutions.  Our work with the White House on Joining Forces is a natural extension of our efforts in this area and renews our commitment to the wellness of our nation’s military.”

Dr. Stephen Shannon, president and CEO, American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, also had a statement.

“A central component of the White House Joining Forces Initiative is wellness, and I am pleased to announce AACOM’s participation in a new Joining Forces effort that could have a significant impact on the health and well-being of our nation’s veterans,” he said. 

Examples of universities stepping up to provide for veterans and their families include:

• Virginia Commonwealth University, where they’re leading a groundbreaking project to provide resources and training to health care providers, volunteers, and community members throughout Virginia who can help ease the transition home for veterans with TBI and PTSD.
• The University of Pittsburgh, where researchers are developing a new imaging tool that allows the visualization of the wiring of the brain in vivid high definition, which could lead to new breakthroughs in the diagnosis of TBI.
• The University of South Florida, where they are working with the Department of Defense and the VA to create a first-of-its-kind Center for Veterans Reintegration, which will mean a single, cohesive research, treatment and education facility for veterans and families.

Obama and  Biden created Joining Forces to bring Americans together to recognize, honor and take action to support veterans and military families as they serve our country and throughout their lives. The initiative aims to educate, challenge, and spark action from all sectors of society to ensure veterans and military families have the support they have earned.

The initiative focuses on key priority areas – employment, education, and wellness while raising awareness about the service, sacrifice, and needs of America’s veterans and military families.

 More information is available at: www.JoiningForces.gov.

Here is a list of the 130 universities and colleges participating in the new  program:

• University of Alabama School of Medicine
• University of South Alabama College of Medicine
• University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine
• Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University
• AT Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine of Arizona
• University of Arizona College of Medicine
• Loma Linda University
• Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California
• Touro University California College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Stanford University School of Medicine
• UC Davis Health System
• University of California, Irvine School of Medicine
• David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
• Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific
• Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine
• University of Colorado School of Medicine
• Yale School of Medicine
• Georgetown University School of Medicine
• George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences
• Howard University College of Medicine
• Florida State University College of Medicine
• Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine Florida International University
• Nova Southeastern University College os Osteopathic Medicine
• University of Florida College of Medicine
• USF Health Morsani College of Medicine
• Emory University School of Medicine
• Medical College of Georgia at Georgia Health Sciences University
• Mercer University School of Medicine
• Morehouse School of Medicine
• University of Hawaii at Manoa, John A. Burns School of Medicine
• Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine
• University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine
• Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University
• Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine
• Rush University Medical Center, Chicago
• Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
• The Chicago Medical School in conjunction with the Lovell Federal Health Care Center
• University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine
• University of Illinois College of Medicine
• Indiana University
• University of Kansas Medical Center
• University of Kentucky College of Medicine
• University of Pikeville Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans
• Tulane University School of Medicine
• Boston University School of Medicine
• Harvard Medical School
• Tufts University School of Medicine
• University of Massachusetts Medical School
• Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
• Uniformed Services University of the Health Science’s F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine
• University of Maryland School of Medicine
• University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
• Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
• University of Michigan Medical School
• Wayne State University School of Medicine
• University of Minnesota Medical School
• Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine AT Still University
• Saint Louis University
• University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine
• University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Medicine
• Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine
• University of Mississippi School of Medicine
• Creighton University School of Medicine
• University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine
• The Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University
• Wake Forest School of Medicine
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine
• University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences
• Dartmouth Medical School
• Cooper Medical School of Rowan University.
• University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey – New Jersey Medical School
• University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey – Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
• University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey – School of Osteopathic Medicine
• University of New Mexico School of Medicine
• University of Nevada School of Medicine
• Hofstra North Shore – LIJ School of Medicine
• New York Institute of Technology New York College of Osteopathic Medicine
• State University of New York Upstate Medical University
• Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine
• University at Buffalo State University of New York School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
• Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
• The Ohio State University
• Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine
• University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
• University of Toledo College of Medicine
• Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine
• Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
• University of Oklahoma College of Medicine
• Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine
• Pacific Northwest University of Health Science College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Commonwealth Medical College
• Drexel University College of Medicine
• Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University
• Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
• Penn State University College of Medicine
• Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Temple University School of Medicine
• University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
• Universidad Central del Caribe School of Medicine
• Ponce School of Medicine and Health Sciences
• Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine
• University of South Carolina School of Medicine
• University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Greenville
• University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine
• Lincoln Memorial University DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Meharry Medical College
• Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
• Baylor College of Medicine
• The Texas A & M Health Science Center College of Medicine
• Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine
• Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine Paul L. Foster School of Medicine
• The University of North Texas Health Science Center Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
• The University of Texas School of Medicine at San Antonio
• University of Texas Medical School at Houston
• University of Utah School of Medicine
• Eastern Virginia Medical School
• University of Virginia School of Medicine
• Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
• Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine
• Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine
• University of Washington School of Medicine
• Medical College of Wisconsin
• University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
• The Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine at Marshall University
• West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
• West Virginia University School of Medicine

Attorney Gordon Johnson
Past Chair Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation Group, American Association of Justice
g@gordonjohnson.com :: 800-992-9447 :: Attorney Gordon S. Johnson, Jr.

Colorado Concussion Law Goes Into Effect Jan. 1

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Posted on 29th December 2011 by gjohnson in Uncategorized

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Colorado at the turn of the new year will join the parade of states that have instituted laws to protect young athletes from concussions, according to the Associated Press.

http://www.kjct8.com/news/30089404/detail.html

Effective Jan. 1, coaches are mandated to take players as young as 11 years old out of play when  it’s  suspected they have sustained a head injury. In addition, these young athletes will need to get medical clearance before they can get off the bench and play again.

Colorado’s new concussion law also makes coaches in both public and private schools take an annual online training course that instructs them about detecting concussion symptoms.

Literally dozens of states have already enacted legislation similar to what Colorado is doing, according to AP.

Attorney Gordon Johnson
Past Chair Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation Group, American Association of Justice
g@gordonjohnson.com :: 800-992-9447 :: Attorney Gordon S. Johnson, Jr.

New Jersey Prepares For First Season Of Skiing, Snowboarding Helmet Law

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Posted on 13th December 2011 by gjohnson in Uncategorized

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New Jersey retailers in ski areas are busy stocking up on helmets,  all  because of a new state law.

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/phillipsburg/index.ssf/2011/12/new_jersey_ski_helmet_law_take.html

The Garden State this spring, in April, became the first state to pass legislation that requires juvenile skiers and snowboarders to wear helmets, beginning this season. Those who are 17 and younger have to wear the safety gear.

The penalities for violation of the new law fall on the parents or guardians of the kids. They will have to pay a $25 fine the first time their child doesn’t wear a helmet while skiing or snowboarding, and $100 for each additional violation, according to The Express-Times. 

So right now ski resorts in areas such as Sussex County, N.J., and the stores that surround them, are loading up their inventories of helmets. One shop, Cannonball Winter Sports, has stocked up with 150 helmets, The Express-Times reported.

The ski resort Mountain Creek has quadrupled it stock of rentable helmets since 2009, to 2,000 from 500, according to The Express-Times. The resort rents the helmets at $10 a pop.

Is it worth the trouble? Some research says it is. A study by the University of Calgary found that a helmet cuts the chance of a head injury by about 35 percent for skiers and snowboarders. 

The new helmet law is well-intentioned, but appears difficult to enforce, according to The Express-Times. Ski resorts are not empowered to enforce the law, only local police and and New Jersey State troopers are. But when is the last time you saw any of them on a ski slope?  

Attorney Gordon Johnson
Past Chair Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation Group, American Association of Justice
g@gordonjohnson.com :: 800-992-9447 :: Attorney Gordon S. Johnson, Jr.

Military Dogs Suffering PTSD From Combat In Iraq, Afghanistan

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Posted on 3rd December 2011 by gjohnson in Uncategorized

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Humans aren’t the only ones suffering post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and being prescribed anti-anxiety drugs such as Xanax, after being in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. Dogs are.

Apparently, the concept of dog PTSD has only come into vogue in the past 18 months, and not all veterinarians agree that there even is such a thing, according to a New York Times article on the topic published Friday. The story, “The Dogs of War, Suffering Like Soldiers,” estimated that more than 5 percent of the 650 military dogs now in combat have canine PTSD.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/02/us/more-military-dogs-show-signs-of-combat-stress.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=dogs%20of%20war&st=cse

These military dogs do tasks such as tracking down the enemy and detecting bombs. If they are not performing these tasks because of the trauma they have suffered, that puts the lives of soldiers at risk.

For example, The Times noted that these dogs are adept at finding improvised explosive devices, known as IEDs. Unlike traditonal bombs, IEDs are typically made out of chemicals and fertilizer, The Times reported, and contain little metal. When they are buried, they can’t be detected by normal mine-sweeping gear. And they are the No. 1 cause of injuries in Afghanistan. 

Dogs can be trained to find those IEDs, as well as to track the Taliban. 

According to The Times, dogs with PTSD exhibit different signs of that malady.  Some won’t go near areas where they previously had no trouble venturing. Others because aggressive, or shy. The problem is when they won’t do the jobs they have been trained to do, such as bomb sniffing.

There doesn’t seem to be any silver bullet, in terms of treatment, according to The Times. Sometimes giving a dog a rest by taking it out of duty is all it takes. Sometimes dogs are given drugs such as Xanax. In other instances, what The Times calls “desensitization counterconditioning” is used as a treatment. A dog may be exposed to a gunshot sound or an explosion far away. If the dog doesn’t have a negative reaction, it is given a reward. The canine is then moved closer to the sound, closer and closer each time the dog doesn’t seem upset by the noise, The Times reported.

If none of this seems to work, a dog will usually be sent back home.   

 

Attorney Gordon Johnson
Past Chair Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation Group, American Association of Justice
g@gordonjohnson.com :: 800-992-9447 :: Attorney Gordon S. Johnson, Jr.

‘Twilight: Breaking Dawn’ Triggers Seizures In Some Moviegoers

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Posted on 27th November 2011 by gjohnson in Uncategorized

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Several moviegoers are claiming that watching the birth scene in the vampire mega-hit “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Park 1″ caused them to have seizures. 

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/breaking-dawn-twilight-seizures-266320

The incidents, which have been widely reported in the media, don’t relate to any of the gore of the scene where Bella, played by Kristen Stewart, is giving birth to a vampire baby sired by her bloodsucker husband Edward, played by Robert Pattinson. 

The scene is accompanied by red, white and black strobe lights that flash on the screen, and those special effects are believed to be the culprit in the seizures.

In one case Brandon Gephart of Roseville, Calif., had to be rushed to the hospital after watching the birth scene. Gephart’s girlfriend later told a local TV station that he had convulsing and having trouble breathing.

And there was a second case where a man in Salt Lake City, Utah, told ABC News that he blacked out during the birth scene.

In the most recent case reported, right after Thanksgiving, Tina Goss in Oregon became ill and had to go to the hospital while watching the vampire flick.

http://www.kval.com/news/local/New-Twilight-film–134543193.html

Medical experts are saying that the strobe lighting in the movie may be triggering episodes of photosensitive epilepsy. The lights have a negative impact on the brains of some people, prompting the terrible reactions.

Attorney Gordon Johnson
Past Chair Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation Group, American Association of Justice
g@gordonjohnson.com :: 800-992-9447 :: Attorney Gordon S. Johnson, Jr.

Stroke Victim’s Family Faces Financial Ruin Due To Medical Bills

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Posted on 25th November 2011 by gjohnson in Uncategorized

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Brain injuries no only take a horrific physical and emotional toll on patients and their families, they can also take a financial toll. 

Such is the case with the Granelli family of Stanhope, N.J., who are in financial ruin after Karen Granelli, 55, suffered a burst aneurism and stroke about three years ago. Her story was chronicled by Star-Ledger columnist Bob Braun on Monday, in an article with the headline, “A terrible affliction, an unbearable debt.”

http://blog.nj.com/njv_bob_braun/2011/11/braun_plight_of_stanhope_famil.html

Karen and her husband Joesph had been doing well, essentially untouched by the recession, prior to her illness. She was a rehabilitation counselor. He was a quality assurance engineer who moonlighted as an appliance salesman, according to Braun. Their daughter Sarah was attending Seton Hall University.

But then Karen had a stroke, which ended up paralyzing her.

In the wake of that life-altering experience, the Granellis are losing everything they worked so hard to get because of their staggering medical bills.

The couple is in bankruptcy and their home is in foreclosure, according to Braun. Their daughter had to drop out of college. And the Granellis are responsible for medical bills “for more than $650,000 not covered by insurance or limited by the bankruptcy filing,” Braun wrote. 

The medical bills are for several weeks that Karen was hospitalized. As Braun points out, Joseph Granelli’s $1 million medical insurance’s lifetime cap was reached quite quickly. This is the kind of problem anyone with a brain injury could face.

“The Granellis aren’t the only people in trouble because of their medical bills, but their story is remarkable because they hit the bottom so  fast — despite spending their lives doing everything right,” Braun wrote.

And that’s wrong.

  

Attorney Gordon Johnson
Past Chair Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation Group, American Association of Justice
g@gordonjohnson.com :: 800-992-9447 :: Attorney Gordon S. Johnson, Jr.

Merck’s Prospective Alzheimer’s Drug Shows Promise, Company Claims

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Posted on 12th November 2011 by gjohnson in Uncategorized

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One can only cross one’s fingers and hope that Merck is really onto something with its new potential drug for Alzheimer’s disease.

In a press briefing last week, the New Jersey-based pharmaceutical giant updated the media on some of its early test results regarding what is now called MK-8931, according to The Star-Ledger of Newark.

http://www.nj.com/business/index.ssf/2011/11/mercks_prospect_for_alzheimers.html

 This potential drug inhibits the creation of the enzymes that lead up to “the build-up of amyloid plaque, a trademark of the irreversible, degenerative disease,” according to The Ledger story published Friday.

“What makes it different, researchers explained, was the way it targets the so-called BACE enzyme to stop the accumulation of amyloid plaque,”  The Ledger wrote of MK-8931.

Merck has identified Alzheimer’s drugs as a priority, but it is a risky one, as The Ledger pointed out.

Right now there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, which has become the Baby Boomer generation’s worst nightmare. A number of drug makers have spent a lot of R&D money  — to no avail — trying to find a drug that will combat this horrendous disease, which robs people of their dignity.

Whoever finds a drug that successfully treats Alzheimer’s will not only be preventing heartbreak for generations to come, it will be hitting the jackpot in terms of generating revenue and financial success.

In this particular case, if Merck’s new drug works it will be a Godsend for all, not just the company’s shareholders but the public.

Attorney Gordon Johnson
Past Chair Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation Group, American Association of Justice
g@gordonjohnson.com :: 800-992-9447 :: Attorney Gordon S. Johnson, Jr.

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