An Alzheimer’s vaccine may be available in our lifetime! Results from a small study have shown that people are responding positively to a Phase II trial.
The exact cause of Alzheimer’s disease is not known. As you know, it causes memory loss and cognitive decline. If you’ve ever loved someone who was suffering from this unspeakably wicked disease, you know how brutal it is. It robs a person of who they are and it breaks the hearts of their families. There is no cure… yet. But a new vaccine now entering Phase III trials looks very, very promising. Here’s what you need to know.
Facts About the Alzheimer’s Vaccine
Currently, you cannot walk into a doctor’s office and ask to get the vaccine. I want to be clear about that. However, you shouldn’t be surprised if it happens sooner than you ever hoped.
Researchers believe Alzheimer’s patients have plaques containing beta-amyloid, a sticky brain protein which forms in the brain. (You’ll forgive me if my explanation isn’t the best. Not a doctor!)
But what United Neuroscience, the folks behind the research, believes they have found is a vaccine that appears to improve brain function and reduce the protein plaque gumming up their neurons.
“We are doing better than the placebo on all these things,” said United Neuroscience CEO Mei Mei Hu to Bloomberg News. “We can’t make any claims yet, but we’re pointing in all the right directions.”
In fact, there was a small United clinical trial that showed that a whopping 96 percent of patients responded, without serious side effects, to the Alzheimer’s vaccine they call UB-311. That’s incredible! It’s a small study, but it gives me hope and it should give you hope as well. (Read more about it here.) The company is beginning Phase III studies now.
Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease
If a loved one is exhibiting these symptoms to the point that you feel concern, take them as soon as possible to see a doctor who specializes in dementia.
The very first signs of Alzheimer’s is difficulty remembering newly learned information. Don’t freak out, though. We all have problems in that area from time to time.
Read about all the other symptoms so you can get a full picture of what to look for. The information below was found on the Alzheimer’s Association website. I encourage you to visit the site to learn more.
1. Memory loss that interferes in everyday living. Asking for the same information over and over is one example.
2. Challenges in planning or problem-solving. They may have trouble following a recipe or managing bills.
3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks. One example would be forgetting how to play a game they’ve always loved.
4. Folks might be confused about the passage of time. Sometimes they forget where they are.
5. They may have difficulty reading, judging distance and determining color or contrast.
Alzheimer’s Vaccine: “This is still the beginning of the beginning.”
-Eric Reiman, Alzheimer’s researcher
6. Following or joining a conversation may be problematic. There may be trouble with their vocabulary or calling things the wrong names. Like calling wheels on a car round things, or a watch a hand clock.
7. Misplacing things and being unable to retrace their steps to find them. They often complain that their things were stolen.
8. Poor judgment and personal care. Patients may not shower as much and unfortunately, they may be swindled easily by folks after their money. (Like telemarketers.)
9. Sufferers commonly withdraw and stop doing the things they once loved to do.
10. Their moods and personalities may change. Folks may be super irritable when their plans change or they are outside their comfort zone.
In closing…
Do you love someone with Alzheimer’s? Have you ever worried about yourself? We’d love to hear your experiences and wisdom on the subject, so please join in the conversation in the comments.
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170 comments on “Everything You Need to Know About the Alzheimer’s Vaccine Studies”
My Dad has Alzheimer’s for over 12 years, eventually making him a vegetable, and then he died. One thing I suggest loved ones do in the early stages of forgetfulness or remembering incorrectly, is to NOT CORRECT the person. Give them what dignity they still might have. One example I use to explain this is when my Dad who was in his early eighties at the time, said he had played basketball with Larry Bird. Of course, this wasn’t possible due to their age difference among other things. So rather than correcting my Dad and possibly agitating him I said “Yes, Dad, you and Larry Bird both played basketball at the same university.” Which was a true statement.
Please let me know if the vaccine is available in South Africa…and if where…please
I would
Love any new information regarding this subject. My mother suffers from dementia right now and may be a good candidate for future testing.
My Father passed away in 2013 from the late stages of Alzheimer’s. I worry about the possibility of me contracting the same. I’ve been following the advance in studies involving Alzheimer’s. I would be willing to volunteer myself in any study/treatment for the advancement of the efforts.
Mom has alzheimers. I visited her yesterday in the care center. She doesn’t know who I am to her but she still know that she knows me. She can say a few words but cannot make sentences. She no longer wears glasses or has her false teeth. No one else in her family has or have had this but there are times that I question myself.
Is there a test or blood work that will confirm Alzheimer’s.?
Wud love to know more
My grandfather, mother, mother’s sister and an older brother by 11 years have had of have this disease. I went and got tested and found I have the genes apo4/4 so I have been seeing a functional Dr. Who is all about this and has been very helpful in getting me on the right track. If you have read the book “end Alzheimer’s “ from Dr Bredesen you will know what I’m referring to. I’m really hoping the vaccine will be the real deal. I didn’t think I would be having problems at 62, but I am, so to those who are much younger, please start to do what you can to help yourself by seeing a functional Dr. Now as we just don’t know if there’s a cure in sight. As of now, there is nothing. I watched quite a few people go through this and it’s not pretty. Please, please take this serious. This disease is horrible and I don’t want my kids to have to deal with me like I had to with my family.
I’m 55 Alzheimers/dementia is in my family history, I would like more information about the trials.
My husband has dementia and I wish I could get him in this study. It is so hard to watching him get worse
My father Alzheimer’s, he was diagnosed with it about 2 years ago, we keep it at bay with CBD, it’s not a cure but a makes a huge huge difference with his memory. The hardest part is keeping up with him taking it on a regular bases. I only wish there was someone out there that could tell me the exact amount and best kind to give it to for the disease, I hope the trail period on this new drug is over soon and they start offering this to the public. It is an awful awful disease.
Im an interested in the new developments in alzhimers. vaccination. My father suffers from this brain disease. I fear i will suffer on day to. I want tone part of that study with this vaccine
My father is 76 and had been in an Assisted Living Home for 2 years. He is the youngest of 5 and has lost all of his siblings to this horrible disease. He knew he would get it so he planned. He took out long term care insurance and made it clear that we were to put him in a facility when the time came and he picked it out. He did a DNR, POA & planned and paid for his funeral. Some days I’m not sure if he knows who I am and others he calls me by name. He doesn’t remember his grandchildren though. I will be asking for this vaccine as soon as it’s available.
My mother had Alzheimer’s for almost 20 yrs. It was so hard to see her losing her memories and things she enjoyed doing. She died a year ago. My father has it also he was forgetting to take his meds and doing things he would never have done. Then he fell and broke his hip. He is in a nursing home and could not understand that he could no longer walk. His birthday is today he is 97. He does not know I am his daughter or remember my name. It just kills me. I think I may have it and it scares the hell out of me. I have told my family that if I have it like my mom I just prefer to have the right to die. I do not want to put my family to go through that. I pray every day that there will be a cure for this horrible disease.
Why is this not available with the Right To Try Law? My wife can’t wait any longer.
I lost my mother 4 years ago to Alzheimers. A slow decline over the course of 8 years until the last year when it progressed rapidly. I am constantly aware that it may happen to me and my daughters. I am grateful and hopeful about the research that is being done and the lives that might be changed by this vaccine.
My mom has Dementia she developed after being given anesthesia for her first back surgery. Then back surgery #2, Peripheral Popliteal Bypass surgery, heart stent and finally carotid artery stent. All these surgeries have pushed her so far that she needs 24/7 care to help get dressed, sometimes to feed herself food, bathing, toileting. She used to do Soduko puzzles then they became difficult so she switched to word search until she could no longer go that. She no longer reads her paper because she can’t understand it anymore. She’s went thru major mood swings until she was put in Namzaric 14/10 instead of taking Namenda and Aricept separately which has helped a lot. Her speech and walk are now being affected. She forgets where she is and always wants to go home even if she is home. She’s forgotten who her kids are from time to time but thankfully she still knows us most days. I miss my mom so much. I miss my best friend. Wish this vaccine was available prior to her developing Dementia but I believe it’ll be too late for her. Keep up with the research!
Would love to see if this could help my husband. He just turned 55 and has been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s. I’m still in denial and have high hopes for him!
My husband is 70.. we have been married for 50 yrs. He has quite a few symptoms on the list.
Neurologist says he does not have Alzheimer’s. Would like to be in the trial.
I have a beautiful, dear friend in The U.S. I have never met her. We have been friends on FB for long. She has recently been diagnosed with Alzhiemer’s. Is there any way she could benefit from this ongoing research? She is a talented painter & sculptor. She is thoroughly so positive & brave about the diagnosis, a quality that we in India are still learning. I admire her strength & zest & hope the world will not lose the presence of people like her far too soon.