Alzheimer's trial takes new approach to tackle the disease
81 views · Published 14 October 2018 · 6:46 · Indexed 28 September 2026
Channel: AP Archive · 2018 · News & Politics
(9 Oct 2018) LEADIN: Scientists in London are launching a new randomised trial for Alzheimer's patients which they say aims to tackle the disease differently. The trial, called DESPIAD (Depletion of Serum Amyloid P Component in Alzheimer's disease), aims to target a protein which can create conditions in the brain for the disease to thrive. STORYLINE: Staffan Duhs is hoping he will be able to join a new Alzheimer's trial being launched in London. Duhs started to suffer memory loss several years ago. Duhs admits it's is hard chasing a diagnosis for a disease which leads to brain degeneration and as yet, has no cure. He says: "Yes that of course a bit difficult yes, but I try to do as good as I can yes, in spite of the diagnosis and the illness and the sort of incapacity what you'd call it." Duhs, an intellectually high achiever, was tested for the disease by his general practitioner. The GP used the usual diagnostic cognitive tests, but Duhs scored one hundred percent. That didn't persuade his wife Rosalind who's been married to the Swedish ex-diplomat since their whirlwind romance in 1972. She says the deterioration in her husband's brain became to obvious to her in 2014 when they were managing the sale of their London home. "The first thing that happened was anxiety about what was going to happen, what we were going to do, when we were going to do it and perhaps less of an ability to remember those things," says Rosalind Duhs. Stefan Duhs is now on a drug called Donepezil, it temporarily treats the symptoms of Alzheimer's, but not the cause. Nobody knows what causes the death of brain cells which is responsible for the damage which leads to dementia. Much research has looked at amyloid which comes from a protein which forms abnormal fibres in the brain, often referred to as plaques. Doctors say there is strong evidence to link it to cardiovascular disease. Asked if he has changed his lifestyle since his first symptoms of Alzheimer's, Duhs say no, but then his wife gently reminds him: "Well I think what you do do, which is really admirable, is you swim nearly every day." "Yes I do that yes," says her husband. Laughing Rosalind Duhs persists: "And you do eat well and you've cut down on alcohol." "Yes we have done that too, yes that's part of the process," agrees Staffan. "And your general health absolutely astounding," says his wife adding "Your GP even said she wished she had that blood pressure herself." Duhs and his wife are hoping his good general health will stand him in good stead when it comes to fighting the disease. Duhs retired in 2006, but he hasn't allowed his mind to stop being active. Soon after he stopped work he took up a history course to further his academic achievements. "So that was very interesting and I read a lot of books and went on a lot of courses and sort of got an MA (Master of Arts degree) out of it in the end, yes." The couple are here at the National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery to see if he is able to pass the screening tests to get onto the DESPIAD trial launched on October 9th. They won't know if he's been accepted on the trial until after doctors have had a chance to scrutinise his PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scan. The drug is being tested is CPHPC, known by the brand name of Miridesap. It's currently used to treat patients who have a rare disease called amyloidosis. The trial, funded by the UK's National Institute for Health Research, is blind and randomized so even the patients taking part don't know if they are getting the drug or a placebo. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/8ee9baf8d97123d5040198a55ceb9d4f
