July 16, 2001--
Five Utah Alzheimer's patients are about to find out if a new drug will regrow nerves in their brains, restoring memory and halting the progression of the disease.
Science Specialist Ed Yeates takes a look.
69-year-old Harold Gottfredson listens to the music he loves, but he can't remember the names of the compositions.
Though he was once a proficient musician with the Utah Symphony, he now stays at home, watching and waiting as the memories fade.
HAROLD GOTTFREDSON: "THERE IS SOMEONE HERE WHO I AM TALKING WITH AND THEN I GO BLANK."
CLYDE GOTTFREDSON: "IT'S LIKE A DEATH. IT'S SOMETHING YOU'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED BEFORE. I MEAN I KNOW OF SOMEONE DEAR TO ME WHO WAS DYING OF CANCER. AND I THOUGHT IT WAS BAD. BUT NOTHING TO THIS."
Clyde Gottfredson hopes and prays this new drug which stimulates the growth of nerves in the brain will reverse what's happening to her husband.
It looks almost like a raspberry shake. Harold may begin taking 500 miligrams per day while researchers wait to see if it makes a difference. The manufacturer is increasing the dose because early data with the first group of patients looks extremely promising.
JAMES FERGUSON, M.D., PHARMACOLOGY RESEARCH CLINIC: "IN THE FIRST PHASE, THEY'RE USUALLY CONSERVATIVE. SO NOW THEY'RE LOOKING FOR A THERAPEUTIC DOSE WHICH WILL REALLY WORK."
ED YEATES, SCIENCE SPECIALIST: "IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF SO-CALLED LITTLE FRECKLES THROUGHOUT THE BRAIN. THESE ARE PLAQUES. AND IT'S THESE PLAQUES THAT CAUSE THE DAMAGE."
What the drug appears to do is stimulate the growth of nerves over these plaques, forming a patch, and re-establishing communication.
DR. FERGUSON: "PASSES INTO THE BRAIN - ACTUALLY CAUSES THE NERVE GROWTH FACTOR TO BE RELEASED IN THE BRAIN ITSELF. THEN YOU GET THIS SPROUTING."
It won't restore all memory, but the drug may give patients like Harold the capability to form new memories.
If it works, that in effect, might halt the progression of the disease.
