Alzheimer's according to study transferable

Alzheimer's could be transferable

09/17/2014

At a congress in Munich, around 7,000 experts will be discussing diagnoses, therapies and causes of neurological diseases this week. These include Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. It can not be ruled out that these diseases could be transmitted via blood, as has now been reported.

Thousands of experts discuss neurological diseases
Around 7,000 experts are currently working on a congress on neurological diseases in Munich. Among other things, the scientists will discuss the causes, diagnoses and therapeutic approaches of diseases such as sleep disorders, strokes, chronic back pain, multiple sclerosis, dizziness syndromes or epilepsy. In addition, some experts place great emphasis on two other diseases: Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. For years, researchers have been discussing these diseases as whether they behave like infectious diseases and could be transmitted through the blood.

Indications of possible transmission via blood
According to the Munich neuropathologist Prof. Armin Giese, this risk still can not be ruled out. From animal experiments there is such evidence of a transfer. Giese said on Tuesday at the opening of Neurowoche in Munich that "clumped proteins from the brain of Parkinson's patients monkeys have been injected, in which then similar changes in the brain have been observed." The "clumped proteins apparently trigger a chain reaction that spreads like an avalanche to different parts of the brain". Currently, neuromedicine is working intensively on the question of how this chain reaction can be stopped. „If it were possible to stop these processes, this could be an important step in the treatment of this previously incurable progressive disease.“

Possible transmission routes via blood transfusions not clarified
Giese pointed out that there are parallels in Alzheimer's dementia and Parkinson's disease to the so-called prion diseases such as CJD and BSE. The transferability was proven at these late. He explained that there is currently no indication, „that Alzheimer's or Parkinson's can affect social contact or care for patients“. However, possible transmission routes, such as blood transfusions or OPs, have not been fully clarified.

Patient guards require safety precautions
The chairman of the German Foundation for Patient Protection, Eugen Brysch, demanded that this theoretical risk must already be excluded with safety precautions during operations. At the same time he called for restraint: „I warn against taking unsecured assumptions too early into public discussion. There is no need for panic.“ Until Friday, around 7,000 professionals will attend the Bavarian state capital „Festival of Neuromedicine“ to debate about neurological diseases. (Ad)