Famous Colombian writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s novel, 100 Years of Solitude, tells of a family who are all suffering from a strange affliction that erases their memories. While it is unlikely that Garcia Marquez realized it, his art was indeed ‘imitating life. Gabriel Garcia Marquez is among the most acclaimed Colombian authors of all time and is heralded in the literary genre of magical realism, yet the life of those in the Antioquia region of Colombia cannot escape the affliction that plagues their literature and families. Antioquia was previously only notable for being the murder capital of the world, but it is now being deemed ‘The Alzheimer’s Laboratory,’ due to it being a perfect research opportunity, as it houses the largest concentration …show more content…
First, it is important to know what this study is testing for; the study in Antioquia is different from any other Alzheimer’s study, as stated by the National Institute of Health, because the Paisa mutation that causes the early-onset Alzheimer’s that the Antioquians suffer from, is testable through blood samples. This means that for the first time, we can diagnose Alzheimer’s before the symptoms show. So since Genentech has created, and is testing an immunotherapy drug on people that are definitely going to develop the disease, it can be seen whether or not the presence of the beta-amyloid plaques, which are largely believed to cause the dementia, are altered or are alterable. Everyday Health reports that in this study there are 300 participants who would be 5 years away from symptoms beginning to show. Of these 300, only 100 will get the trial version of the immunotherapy drug. The remaining will be given a placebo. It is what is called a ‘double-blind’ trial, where neither the administrators of the drug, or the recipients, know who is going to have the disease, get the placebo, or not. According to Dr. Kosik, this double-blind aspect of the study is by choice, and can be considered more humane, as there is currently no definite help for those who are to be afflicted by the