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Alzheimer's Vaccine Patch Works in Mice

Posted on: Monday, 22 January 2007, 15:00 CST

A transdermal vaccine shows promise in treating the deadly memory-impairment disorder Alzheimer's disease in mice, say U.S. researchers.

The needle-free approach appeared effective in clearing the Alzheimer's-affected animals of the brain-damaging plaques that mark the disease, said researchers at the University of South Florida.

While many groups have shown vaccinating against the beta amyloid protein (Ab) can reduce Alzheimer's-like pathology including certain cognitive deficits, this study is the first to demonstrate that immunization using the skin may be an effective way to reduce Ab pathology, said senior study author Jun Tan, director of the Neuroimmunology Laboratory at the Institute for Research in Psychiatry at USF.

The Alzheimer's vaccine being tested works by triggering the immune system to recognize and attack Ab -- a protein that abnormally builds up in the brains of Alzheimer's patients.

The beauty is that something as simple and non-invasive as a skin patch could potentially be a promising therapy for Alzheimer's disease, said study coauthor Terrence Town.

A transdermal treatment for the disease would also reduce the risk of adverse immune reactions, the researchers said.

The study is published online this week in The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Source: United Press International

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