Animals to human models: Indian scientists question new approach in Alzheimer’s research

With animal-based studies failing to hit the bull's eye in finding a cure for Alzheimer's disease (AD), the clock is ticking for over 3.7 million Indians suffering from dementia. While a British neuro

By: Editorial Team | | Published: June 9, 2014 7:02 pm

With animal-based studies failing to hit the bull’s eye in finding a cure for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the clock is ticking for over 3.7 million Indians suffering from dementia. While a British neurochemist has called for switching over to ‘state-of-the-art human biology based techniques’, Indian researchers feel a lot of rough edges need to be trimmed. In a new paper, a leading British neurochemist claimed research centred on animal models could have ‘delayed progress in developing effective treatments for humans’. Arguing that ‘a decade of AD research dominated by artificially creating symptoms in genetically modified mice has failed to find a single cure that works in human patients’, Gill Langley, senior science adviser to Humane Society International (HSI), has called for a paradigm shift. A look at the data available sheds light on the magnitude of the problem. Also Read - Traumatic brain injury can increase risk of Alzheimer's disease: Tips to avoid head injuries

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According to the Dementia India Report, in 2010, around 3.7 million were affected and this is likely to double by 2030 and triple by 2050. AD claims around 500,000 lives globally each year while statistics show there is a new case of dementia somewhere in the world every four seconds. Moreover, age is the ‘single-most risk factor’ for the disease, which happens to be the most common form of dementia in old people (above the age of 65) that gets worse over time. These numbers will only go up because of a steady growth in the older population. Add to it the lack of proper policies and healthcare strategies for the elderly. (Read: Could a sleep disorder indicate Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s?) Also Read - Ganesh Chaturthi 2020: 4 reasons an eco-friendly Ganesha is good for you

Langley’s study, published in the Drug Discovery Today journal, therefore, stressed on the need to introduce ‘next-generation tools’ like functioning human brain cells in a test tube, neuro-imaging and genomics as the cornerstone for AD research. This could be a precursor to ‘personalised medicine tailored to maximise benefits to individual patients’. IANS spoke to a section of researchers associated with AD research in India. Though many were hopeful, most highlighted certain basic challenges that first have to be met. ‘The idea would definitely be welcome. It would expedite the process and new techniques like neuro-imaging could be a great aid in research,’ Amit Dias, coordinator of the medical and scientific advisory panel for dementia at the Alzheimer’s and Related Disorders Society of India (ARDSI), told IANS over the phone from Goa. Welcoming the idea in the light of customised drugs, inorganic chemistry researcher Abhishek Dey, at the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS) here, stressed on non-invasive methods and expressed concern over cultivating brain cells in a culture dish. (Read: Could you suffer from Alzheimer’s in the future? Take this blood test to find out)

‘One also has to appreciate the fact that a human cell in a dish is in a different environment than a human cell in a tissue,’ Dey told IANS, pressing for instating protocols that qualify people with impaired cogitative and cognitive functions as willing cell donors. Figures show India spends Rs.147 billion ($3.5 billion) in medical costs, care and services for patients with dementia and this is likely to treble by 2030. Factoring in the financial burden, Alokparna Sengupta, HSI’s Be Cruelty-Free India campaign manager, said: ‘So we would argue that it’s economically feasible for a country like India to switch from animal to human biology-based models.’ (Read: What every dementia or Alzheimer’s caregiver ought to know)

Though the initial expense of instating hi-tech systems and technological expertise would be high, that would be balanced by developing long-term solutions, said Dias. However, researcher Sarika Gupta, at the National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, said given the multifaceted nature of AD – involving other organs like the brain and liver – such improvisations ‘will not solve the issue’. ‘Transgenic mouse models are still best suited for evaluating drug potency for countering AD progression at the laboratory level. A serious discussion and planning of a new strategy for basic medical research and drug discovery is urgently needed as personalised medical treatment is far from reality in India,’ Gupta told IANS in an email.

What is alzheimer’s?

Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative mental disease that causes problems with memory, thinking and behaviour. It is the most common form of dementia and is commonly seen in the elderly. While the chances of developing the disease increase with age, it is now seen that younger people are also now being diagnosedwith the disease.

During the course of Alzheimer’s disease, nerve cells in areas of the brain that control language, reasoning, sensory processing, and conscious thought die due to plaque deposition. Symptoms include confusion, mood swings, impaired reasoning or judgement, long-term memory loss and a gradual loss of bodily functions.Dementia is the most prominently visible symptom. People with Alzheimer’s begin to have problems recognising family and friends. They also find it exceptionally difficult to learn new things, carry out tasks that involve multiple steps (like getting dressed) and cope with new situations. They might suffer from insomnia. In the more severe stages of Alzheimer’s disease, the brain completely shrinks and they become increasinglydependent on others.

The diagnosis of Alzheimer’s is usually based on collective symptoms and family history. Other tests that can be performed are mental status tests and radiological tests. A recent advancement in the diagnosis of the disease is the use of biomarkers. Current treatments for Alzheimer’s are based on treating the symptoms but they do not eliminate the cause. The best way to slow the process and prevent it from progressing is early medical intervention. The earlier the condition is identified, the better the prognosis. Treatments include medications for memory loss and treatments for behavioural and sleep changes. Intervention therapies like reminiscence therapy, simulated presence therapy and validation theory may improve the quality of a patient’s life. (Read: Alzeimer’s disease it’s more common than you think)

With inputs from IANS

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Published : June 9, 2014 7:02 pm

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