Comment on Alzheimer's Disease

in view of media reports

Part of Supplement to Book 2

by Ching-Chee Chan, Ph.D.

All Rights Reserved

Egret Publishing Inc.

July 2000

According to some CNN reports, ^{cnn1, 2} there is a dispute whether the plaques, called amyloid-beta proteins, causing inflammation in the brain or the tangles, made from tau proteins, are the causes of the disease. Most inflammatory molecules observed in the twisted finger of an arthritis patient can be observed in the brains of Alzheimer's patients. ^cnn3 New drugs may be tried to counter the deposits and inflammation. Nash reported similar information in the Time magazine. ^t1

The real culprit may be the factor which causes the deposits, tangles and inflammation. Amyloidosis has been observed in patients of Alzheimer and Hansen's diseases and of many other diseases such as tuberculosis and autoimmune diseases. ^pepys From statistical consideration in Books 1 & 2, many diseases show similar variation patterns, and are considered related. Most of these are autoimmune diseases and are assigned to parts of the spectrum of Hansen's disease. The diseases of the central nervous system such as ALS, Alzheimer and Parkinson's diseases are assigned to the unknown parts of the spectrum, based on the considerations of statistical data. For further detail, please see the two booklets. Shortened versions of these two booklets are available free on line. Inflammation in the central nervous system is expected according to the hypothesis. Now the evidences of it have actually been observed in the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients. ^cnn3 All these seem to be consistent with one another. The fundamental cause of Alzheimer's disease is probably the antigen of Hansen's bacterium.

Inflammation can be treated with thalidomide. The DNA of Hansen's bacterium in Alzheimer's disease patients can be checked by means of PCR methods. Since doctors have not been told to expect this, they are not likely to suggest checking for this bacterium. Patients or their families should suggest it. Even doctors suspect it, they may not like to suggest it, lest the patients and their families take offence. Patients can be treated with antibiotics if tested positive for the bacterium.

References

cnn1. Experts fear large increase in Alzheimer's as more people live longer. July 11, 2000.

http://www.cnn.com/2000/HEALTH/07/10/alzheimers.co.../index.htm

cnn2. Researchers find evidence that brain "plaque" causes Alzheimer's.

http://www.cnn.com/2000/HEALTH/03/21/alzheimers.plaque/index.html

cnn3. Researchers describe new era in experimental chemical attacks on Alzheimer's disease.

http://www.cnn.com/2000/HEALTH/aging/07/11/alzheimer.vaccine02/index.htm

t1. Nash M. The new science of Alzheimer's. Racing against time-and one another -researchers close in on the aging brain's most heartbreaking disorder. Time 2000 July 17: 32-39.

pepys. Pepys MB. Amyloidosis. In: Weatherall DJ, Ledingham JGG, Warrell DA. (Eds.), Oxford Textbook of Medicine (2^nd edition). Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1987: 9.145-9.157.