Sick potatoes – a cure for Alzheimer's disease

Experiments on mice have shown that vaccination with beta-amyloid, which stimulates the production of antibodies to this protein, slows down the development of Alzheimer's disease and improves cognitive function – possibly by destroying amyloid plaques in the brain. Several early clinical trials also showed promising results, but were discontinued due to the risk of developing autoimmune encephalitis in patients.

One of the ways to secure vaccination against Alzheimer's disease is to use a closely related, but not human, protein as an active component of the vaccine. A good example of this approach is the use of cowpox virus for immunization against human smallpox.

American scientists working under the guidance of Dr. Robert Friedland applied this concept to an amyloid-like protein found in the potato Y virus. They injected viral particles into mice, after which an additional immunomodulator was injected monthly for four months. The procedure resulted in the formation of stable levels of antibodies binding to beta-amyloid in animals both in solution and in tissue samples of patients with Alzheimer's disease. Feeding mice with infected potato leaves also led to the appearance of specific antibodies, but in smaller quantities.

The authors emphasize that the potato Y-virus is a very common infection that does not pose a danger to humans, because many people with a high degree of probability ate infected potatoes. If testing of antibodies, the production of which is stimulated by the virus, proves their effectiveness, over time, the potato virus can turn into a means of combating an incurable disease to date.

Article by Robert P. Et al. "Antibodies to Potato Virus Y Bind the Amyloid Beta Peptide" published August 15 in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

Portal "Eternal youth" www.vechnayamolodost.ru Based on ScienceDaily – Potatoes May Hold Key To Alzheimer's Treatment01.10.2008