2023-09-21 04:46:00
Doctors reveal that “Alzheimer’s disease” is caused by an accumulation of proteins in the brain. It can be detected with a PET scan and there is a test kit that is 90% accurate. They are developing a simple COVID test kit. It is revealed that the US FDA has approved the drug lecanemab for use in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. early when Last July
On September 21, Dr. Weerawut Imsamran, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Medical Services, said that September 21 of every year is World Alzheimer’s Day. Alzheimer’s disease is the number one cause of death. One of the leading causes of dementia worldwide It is believed that there are approximately 600,000-700,000 elderly people in Thailand who have dementia. Previously, it relied on the method of evaluating the patient’s condition. The diagnosis can only be confirmed by a brain biopsy following death. And the medicine used for treatment is still only to support the symptoms. There is no cure yet, but over the past 10 years it has been found that Alzheimer’s disease is caused by the buildup of abnormal proteins in the brain called “Amyloid beta protein” and “Tau protein” which lead to new scientific discoveries Current diagnosis requires special examinations, including: 1. Nuclear radiographs using a PET scan. This will detect proteins and the amount of distribution in the accumulation of proteins in different parts of the brain to interpret patients at risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Separate from other dementias What is the chance of developing full-blown dementia?
2. Direct measurement of protein levels from cerebrospinal fluid and blood. And testing kits and tools have been developed, increasing their accuracy by more than 90 percent. And recently in the past two years in America and Europe, blood test kits have been certified for use in diagnosis. Only 3-5 cc of blood can be used to diagnose the disease. and also develop inspection tools to be more convenient to use in the form of ready-made examination sheets By adding a drop of blood to the test strip, these proteins may be detected. The same way as using a COVID test kit. It is in the experimental study stage.
Dr. Thanin Wechapinan, Director of the Neurology Institute, said that in the past, Alzheimer’s disease was treated with medicine and used medicine according to the symptoms to increase neurotransmitters in the brain. But it cannot slow down the deterioration and atrophy of the brain. Recently, the United States FDA It has been approved to use lecanemab for the treatment of early stage Alzheimer’s patients in July 2023 and has produced new drugs. There are many more that may be more effective but are very expensive. And the long-term benefits of the drug still need to be evaluated. Side effects that need to be watched out for May follow the information following actual use abroad for a period of time. Therefore, it can be used on a wide scale around the world. Including in Thailand For those who suspect that relatives or close people are at risk of Alzheimer’s disease. You can go for an initial examination at the elderly clinic, a nursing home near your home. In cases where the disease is complex, the patient will be referred to a higher level medical facility as appropriate. The Neurology Institute, Department of Medical Services can provide testing services for protein levels of Alzheimer’s disease in the cerebrospinal fluid. If any patient has an indication that he or she must undergo examination. You can undergo an initial evaluation at the Neurological Institute.
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