Vaccination Can Halt Progression of Alzheimer’s-Like Condition in Mice

Vaccination with a protein that plays a key role in Alzheimer’s disease can halt progression of an Alzheimer’s-like disorder in mice and may even reverse some of the symptoms, according to a report in today’s Nature. The protein, called AN-1792, is a modified form of beta-amyloid peptide, one of the proteins found in the plaques and tangles in the brain characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease.

Vaccination with AN-1792 before the disease process has begun prevents the accumulation of plaques in mice genetically engineered to produce abnormally large amounts of beta-amyloid, according to researchers from Elan Pharmaceuticals in South San Francisco. Administering it later in the course of the disease can even stimulate the disappearance of the plaques. Elan wants to start trials with people later this year.

Although the results appear promising, mice with the animal model of the disease do not display behavioral problems, so researchers are not sure of its benefits. Furthermore, critics say, it is not clear yet whether the accumulation of plaques causes the disease or is simply a byproduct of the disease process.

--Compiled by Times medical writer Thomas H. Maugh II