Towards An Alzheimer's Gene Therapy

EurekAlert reports on trial results for a first generation gene therapy for Alzheimer's: "UCSD physician-scientists took skin cells from eight patients diagnosed with early Alzheimer's disease. The tissue was modified in the lab to express nerve growth factor (NGF), a naturally occurring protein that prevents cell death and stimulates cell function ... the genetically modified tissue was implanted deep within the brains of the eight patients who had volunteered for the study." The results were better than any existing therapy, but only slowed degeneration. Better results are to be expected as therapies become more tailored to address the underlying biochemistry of the condition.

Link: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-04/uoc--acd041805.php

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