Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. A person with Alzheimer’s experience problems with writing, speaking and memory loss. This disease is degenerative meaning it slowly gets worse over time. Currently 5.7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, the ALZ association says by 2050 this number could rise up to 14 million. Although Alzheimer’s is currently an incurable disease, more funding should be put towards research and treatment options for people with Alzheimer’s because more people are developing Alzheimer’s, there is no known cause, it would save billions of dollars later on, researchers are making progressing finding a cure and seeing a loved one slowly die from this …show more content…
His research is on inhibitory interneurons because of the neurons ability to regulate brain rhythms. Shows progress towards finding a cure. He discovered how cell therapy can improve brain function in Alzheimer’s patients. when he began his research he took inhibitory interneurons and transplanted it into an Alzheimer model. But it resulted in the cell continuing to die because the neurons were unable to overcome the toxic environment of amyloid plaque and tangles. Next he did research as to find why it didn’t work and he discovered if he reengineered the neurons they could possibly overcome the toxic environment. To improve the neurons function he reengineered the neurons by adding the protein Nav1.1. then he transplanting the reengineered inhibitory interneurons in to the brain of an Alzheimer model. He found that the neurons were able to overcome the toxic environment and restore brain function and the mouse models live longer. He is currently waiting to begin human trials because the human brain may react different than a mouse brain. He is also working on a drug so that the treatment can be less invasive, because a majority of Alzheimer patients are elderly and their bodies cannot handle extreme