Alzheimers-Fix it before it breaks

Jun 19th, 2007 by Dr. Michael Merzenich

An article in the New York Times published about two weeks ago mirrored by an article in the AARP Bulletin bumptiously extolled the wonderful energies in the pharmaceutical industry directed toward medical strategies for more effectively treating or ‘curing’ Alzheimers Disease. The NYT science writer focussed on Wyeth Laboratories, because they are putting down most of their chips on an AD play. Both articles pointed out, quite correctly, that there is a tremendous effort and substantial treasure being expended in this drug development arena, and that almost every major manufacturer is working hard to crack this nut. The marginally effective drugs now available for AD patients have been highly profitable for their producers; new proprietary drugs that could actually arrest the AD pathology should be of extraordinarilly high value. It would appear to be highly likely that several such drugs shall soon come down the pike.

A drug that can effectively arrest the progression of AD pathology would be a great boon to just about everyone I can think of — possibly excepting all of those folks who own and run long-term care facilities! Sorry, guys and gals, but it would be a sweet thing, indeed, to see YOUR business take a big hit!

At the same time, I have three alternative reactions to this rosy picture.

First, why, exactly, would anyone want to have their pathology arrested in the first stages of AD?! That’s just a little bit like being sent to Limbo! An individual is not exactly in tip-top mental shape when their doctor dubs them with the AD label. On the other hand, to the extent to which drugs do not merely arrest decline, BUT ALSO HELP ENABLE a brain plasticity-driven rejuvenation in this population, they really COULD be the kind of ‘wonder drug’ described in these articles.

Second, when we have intensively trained individuals who are in a pre-AD medical status, their cognitive decline appears be arrested — and, in fact, significant functional rejuvenation is recorded. These practical studies combined with a growing number of animal studies indicate that brain fitness exercises can, by themselves, prophylactically sustain brain health over an extended epoch. Training (like that provided by Posit Science’s Brain Fitness Program) has at least five significant advantages over drugs. a) It holds the promise of prophylactically preventing the onset of the changes that themselves lead to AD onset. (A precaution: Studies measuring these prophylactic values of training are in progress. They are not yet definitively determined.) b) Training is organic. By its nature, undesired side effects just don’t come into play. c) Training strategies are inexpensive — in total, a small fraction of the cost of any proprietary AD-targeted drug. d) Training can provide a basis for continuous patient performance monitoring (through automated self-assessments and an Internet communication like) that helps ASSURE a ’safe’ patient status across future time. Finally, e) if you’re as far down the path of decline as an early-AD patient, you an already make very good use of brain fitness exercises, in any event!

Third, waiting for that drug that’s going to save your bacon, like Waiting for Godot, can be frustrating! Maybe you won’t last long enough to reap its benefits! My advice: Don’t wait. Get thee to the Brain Fitness Center!

Sphere: Related Content


Posted in Aging and the Brain, Brain Fitness, "Chemobrain" and Related Causes of Cognitive Impairment, Brain Trauma, Injury, Cognitive impairments, Alzheimer's, Posit Science, Brain Fitness Program | 2 Comments

2 Responses to “Why not fix it BEFORE it breaks?”
on 16 Jul 2007 at 8:01 am1James (Jim) Maroney Sr
I have purchased and used your brain fitness program. I believe it is useful. Its major value is helping me and others realize that there is something we can do to get fit and stay fit. It is, of course, a software program. Software developers seem to fall into two catagories, ones who focus on keeping the software’s prices high and thus limiting its access (Apple is a good example of this-they choked themselves darned near out of the computer business and rely on their cult status to stay in business) and ones who open it up full throttle to all comers by lowering the price or giving it away free. I believe history shows the opening up process to be best for the software developers and for the people. I suggest you make a bold move (one that will shock the business world and one that will put you way ahead of others in you field) and lower your price to less than $100 or bolder yet, give it away. You will benefit mankind and probably make more money than you ever knew possible. Jim Maroney