With many chronic illnesses, it often feels like there is no end in sight. The disease is a Goliath, and we are David. It is an insurmountable mountain; how are we even supposed to begin to climb it? However, we often underestimate how much progress modern medicine has allowed us to make. Take, for example, Alzheimer's. Just over a hundred years ago, we hadn't even identified the illness. Every day, we make breakthroughs in treatment and research. So, today, I thought it would be cool to look back at where we started and at just how much progress we've made. So, without further ado, a timeline of Alzheimer's research:
Let's begin in 1906. A doctor named Alois Alzheimer had a patient who suffered from frequent memory loss, problems with communication, and unpredictable actions. After she passed, he performed an autopsy. He found what we now realize is a build-up of proteins and tangles of fibers. Dr. Alzheimer was the first of many doctors who use microscopic changes in brain tissue to explain psychological symptoms.
Research was difficult to continue until 1931, when the electron microscope was invented. The electron microscope is much more effective than the typical light microscope. Electron microscopes can magnify biological material up to 2,00,000x and are now a common fixture in labs. Electron microscopes allow researchers to study brain cells, also known as neurons.
The next big breakthrough in Alzheimer's research came in 1968. This year, one of the first cognitive measurement scales was development. Cognitive measurement scales test a patient's brain function and are used to diagnose Alzheimer's and dementia. They have been vital in learning more about dementia and how it progresses.
Flash forward 12 years to 1980. The Alzheimer's Association is founded. Today, it leads the world in funding, research, and support for Alzheimer's and dementia.
Four years later, the beta-amyloid protein is identified. The protein is the principal component in the brain plaque that causes Alzheimer's and neuron damage. Two years later, the tau protein is identified. This protein causes the tangles that are a major characteristic of Alzheimer's.
In 1987, the first drug trial for Alzheimer's occurred. Five years later, the first drug for Alzheimer's was recognized by the FDA. Four other drugs were approved over the next few years.
Since the early two-thousands, funding has continued to increase, all thanks to a number of organizations dedicated to curing and preventing Alzheimer's and dementia. Right now, much of the research is focused on preventing the disease, as we have already identified various genes that, if possessed, put a patient at a much higher risk for Alzheimer's.
In 2012, the first major clinical trial for preventing Alzheimer's was initiated. Then, a year later, the International Genomics of Alzheimer’s Project (IGAP) discovered 11 new genetic risk factors for dementia. This was a major breakthrough in preventing and diagnosing the disease in its early stages.
In the past few years, funding for research has only continued to increase. In 2017, national funding increased to over 1.4 billion dollars. In 2019, it reached an all-time high.
Funding and research for Alzheimer's disease as only continued to grow. There are numerous organizations dedicated to supporting patients, caregivers, and researchers. Right now we can only be hopeful. We are making tremendous strides each and every day.
As always, if you have any questions, comments, or concerns, be sure to reach out. Thank you so much for reading, I hope you enjoyed the post!
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