| This is a look at a small but fascinating study | | | | TNF-alpha over activity is believed to play a role. |
| investigating a new treatment for Alzheimer's | | | | Diseases such as psoriasis and Crohn's disease in |
| disease.Brains in Alzheimer's disease are damaged by | | | | addition to rheumatoid arthritis are examples of |
| long term inflammation of the brain. The progressive | | | | diseases that etanercept is used. |
| deterioration in memory and ability to perform tasks | | | | A recent fascinating study from The Department of |
| that must have a functioning memory take their | | | | Neurology, USC School of Medicine used injections of |
| gradual toll on these patients and their families. Several | | | | etanercept(Enbrel) in the posterior neck. This location |
| million Americans are expected to be develop | | | | of injection was used to improve delivery of the drug |
| Alzheimer's disease in the coming decades. Effective | | | | into the brain, where it was hoped that its |
| treatments are currently poor and ineffective, so new | | | | anti-inflammatory activity would take effect. The study |
| treatments are crucial for the patients and their | | | | included 15 patients who were injected weekly for six |
| families. | | | | months. Posterior neck injection of etanercept led to |
| Alzheimer's disease is a demntia resulting from | | | | sustained cognitive improvement for these patients |
| inflammation and damagein the brain. The damage and | | | | with Alzheimer's disease which ranged from mild to |
| inflammation occur due to a variety of chemicals that | | | | severe. Other recent studies have also supported the |
| the human body produces for other purposes. One | | | | idea that TNF plays a major part in the brain |
| specific chemical called TNF-alpha is thought to be a | | | | inflammation of Alzheimer's disease. |
| main cause of brain inflammation that occurs in | | | | The study authors from Department of Neurology, |
| Alzheimer's disease. TNF-alpha is a protein molecule | | | | USC School of Medicine noted an unexpected and |
| made by white blood cells which stimulates and | | | | dramatic clinical result (which recurred in the majority of |
| activates the immune system in response to cancer or | | | | the patients that were treated with etanercept ). The |
| some infections. Too much of this TNF-alpha | | | | dramatic but repeatedly observed response was a |
| compound is believed to lead to immune system | | | | noticeable improvement within minutes of perispinal |
| diseases wherein the immune system attacks healthy | | | | etanercept injection. The rapid clinical improvement in |
| tissues, suchas joints(rheumatoid arthritis) or | | | | memory and symptoms required the authors of the |
| skin(psoriasis). The newest treatments for these | | | | study to add new testing procedures to their |
| diseases make use of drugs that stopTNF alpha | | | | protocol-so that they could measure the |
| activity, thereby reducing undesirable inflammation. | | | | improvements. |
| Since 1998 etanercept(aka Enbrel), a potent TNF | | | | A case report of an elderly 81 year old man describes |
| blocking drug has been approved for human use, for | | | | markedimprovement within 2 hours. The improvement |
| rheumatoid arthritis as the first official accepted | | | | included the ability toremember interview details, |
| indication. Etanercept is now being used for a | | | | improvement in ability to do simple calculations, ability to |
| numerous other diseases that involve excesss TNF | | | | be better oriented to where he was and what time it |
| activity. Etanercept hooks on to TNF-alpha and stops | | | | was. The man continued to show the improved level |
| TNF-alpha receptors on many cell surfaces. This | | | | of brain function including memory and performance of |
| blocking effect reduces the inflammatory effects of | | | | tasks throughout the duration study and in a 14 day |
| excess TNF-alpha. Researchers and physicians | | | | follow up period. Family members of the elderly patient |
| currently have extensive experience using etanercept | | | | also reported that they had noticed improvement in the |
| to treat a variety of inflammatory disorders where | | | | patient while at home. |