Fact 10: The Future – Hope in Research and Therapeutics
While Alzheimer’s and VaD present significant challenges, they’re not insurmountable. Research into these diseases is advancing at an unprecedented pace, bringing hope for future treatments and strategies for prevention.
One promising area of research is in therapeutics targeting the buildup of amyloid plaques, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. Several drugs in development aim to reduce amyloid production or increase its clearance from the brain. Other therapeutic strategies are targeting tau, another protein that forms abnormal deposits in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s.
For VaD, a lot of hope lies in better management of vascular risk factors, such as hypertension and diabetes. With improved control of these conditions, we could potentially reduce the incidence of VaD significantly. Moreover, researchers are exploring treatments aimed at improving brain blood flow and reducing inflammation, which could also potentially benefit individuals with VaD. (10)
