For the first time, researchers at the University College London (UCL) have identified cases of Alzheimer’s disease that were triggered by a specific medical treatment. Alzheimer’s, the most common type of dementia, is generally thought to occur naturally due to factors such as age, family history, and unhealthy lifestyle behaviors. However, in a study published in Nature Medicine, the UCL researchers linked the development of Alzheimer’s to growth hormone treatments.
The researchers focused on patients who had received a certain type of human growth hormone, extracted from the pituitary glands of deceased individuals. They found that this particular treatment led to an increased buildup of amyloid-beta protein, a substance known to be associated with Alzheimer’s.
Out of the eight individuals studied who had received this growth hormone treatment as children, five developed symptoms of dementia and were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or met the criteria for the disease. All of these patients experienced cognitive decline between the ages of 38 and 55, much earlier than the typical onset of Alzheimer’s. Genetic testing confirmed that their early disease was not inherited.
The researchers stressed that Alzheimer’s disease cannot be transmitted from person to person through daily activities or routine medical care. The cases they studied involved specific and long-discontinued medical treatments that involved repeated injections of contaminated material. The type of growth hormone treatment examined in the study was actually suspended in 1985 after it was found to cause Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), a degenerative brain disorder.
Dr. Rehan Aziz, a geriatric psychiatrist, noted that while this study highlights the possibility of a rare transmissible form of Alzheimer’s disease, the number of cases examined is extremely small. He cautioned against drawing definitive conclusions from the findings and emphasized the importance of replication and confirmation.
Christopher Weber, director of global science initiatives at the Alzheimer’s Association, echoed this viewpoint and emphasized that Alzheimer’s is not contagious. He emphasized the need to eliminate all methods of pathogen transmission in order to prevent abnormal amyloid buildup.
Although the transmission of amyloid beta identified in the study is rare, the research sheds light on the potential risks and highlights the importance of maintaining strict sterilization practices in surgical procedures. The findings should be used to refine medical protocols and prevent any accidental transmission in the future.
In conclusion, while this study points to the possibility of a specific medical treatment contributing to the development of Alzheimer’s disease, it is important to note that the occurrence is extremely rare. It is crucial to continue research in this area and take necessary precautions to ensure the safety of medical procedures.