Alzheimer’s Disease is a serious form of dementia that robs a person of their memories and cognitive functions. Over time, as the disease progresses, suffers will lose their ability to care for themselves, eat correctly, and will forget the faces of those they love. It is a heartbreaking disease.
Big pharmaceutical companies, or big pharma, have dedicated serious research to this disease over the last two decades. It is estimates that the pharmaceutical companies have invest over $1 billion into research, only to come up empty handed. Wadly, they are coming up empty handed because their thought process about this devastating disease is too narrow.
The Medical Theories On Alzheimer’s Disease
After countless years of research, and over 100,000 medical papers published about this disease, Alzheimer’s is still misunderstood. Research has shown that a white sticky substance, known as Abeta in the medical fields, and often compared to plaque that builds up on your teeth, forms in the brain and causes the victim to gradually loose cognitive skills. The more Abeta found in the brain area, the more serious the Alzheimer’s symptoms.
Over 40,000 clinical research papers and the accompanying trials and tests have been conducted on the theory that Abeta causes the disease. In fact, many medical professionals cite Abeta as the cause for Alzheimer’s, period. The quest to remove Abeta from the brains of those affected by Alzheimer’s has become the quest for the Holy Grail in medicine.
Some pharmaceutical companies have succeeded in finding a medication that will eliminate this plaque-like substance from the brain. However, the results were not desirable.
Where Big Pharma Is Making Its Biggest Mistake
The Alzheimer’s medication that big pharma released was effectively removing the Abeta from the brains of those affected. Although not perfect, CTScans showed significant decreases in the substance. However, the medications did not return any of the cognitive functions of the sufferer and had serious side effects. Patients began to suffer brain swelling at dangerous levels and the medicine was removed from the market.
Sadly, instead of seeking different options for treating Alzheimer’s, big pharma continues to spend millions of dollars in research on similar products that they first developed and have continued to “tweak” the original medication.
There has been absolutely no new advances in any other type of medication to treat Alzheimer’s.
What If They Were Wrong?
Although there have been so many studies geared toward understanding the Abeta buildup in the brain associated with Alzheimer’s Disease, no one is taking the time to see if this Abeta is a symptom or just a by-product of the disease and not the actual cause. A new way of thinking may actually help fight this serious disease.
There is an old saying “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” This is something that big pharma may wish to consider when they are spending millions on research for the same type of medication that they used in the past.
Perhaps, big pharma may wish to change gears and go towards preventative measures until a cure is found.
Preventative Measures
Researchers have stated over and over that Abeta decreases blood flow to the brain which in turn causes the dementia symptoms. Maybe it is time to make sure that people have good blood flow by monitoring their health, especially when they reach middle age, in an effort to prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s.
Promoting good cardiovascular health through eating and exercise habits as well as medications is one way to ensure that blood is flowing through the body correctly. Promoting brain function is also necessary for good brain health.
Teach people hoe to keep their minds active. When people are concentrating on a puzzle, playing a video game, singing a song, dancing, or any other activity that takes concentration, they are naturally increasing blood flow to the brain.
Medical research must take a step back and look where they are at after 20 years of dedicated research. Once they see that they seem to be stuck, maybe big pharma and the medical community will think outside the box and search for a cure in a different direction.