An implant may help prevent Alzheimer's disease. Scientists have created an implantable capsule that can actually turn a person's immune system against the disease.
Researchers are still unsure exactly what causes Alzheimer's. However, one of the proposed ideas is that Alzheimer's is due to the over-accumulation of the protein amyloid beta in different areas of the brain. Because of this build-up, protein plaques form that can be toxic to neurons. Getting rid of the amyloid beta proteins, in theory, could help prevent Alzheimer's.
In this case, the researchers looked at how to use the immune system to attack and clear amyloid beta proteins before the first signs of cognitive decline. While previous treatments included repeated vaccine injections, which could cause side effects, scientists believe they've come up with another solution.
This particular solution includes an implant that can deliver a steady flow of antibodies to the patient's brain. More specifically, the researchers developed a bioactive capsule that contains cells that have been genetically engineered to produce antibodies against amyloid beta proteins. The capsule is implanted in tissue under the skin and then it does its work.
The cells that go into the capsule itself are genetically engineered to produce antibodies that specifically recognize amyloid beta proteins as targets. These cells are taken from muscle tissue, and permeable membranes allow them to interact with the surrounding tissue to receive all of the nutrients and molecules they need.
So far, researchers have only tested the device on mice. However, the experiments were a great success. The mice showed a dramatic reduction in the amount of amyloid beta plaque load after having the device implanted. Not only that, but the constant flow of the capsule prevented the formation of plaques over the course of 39 weeks.
While the new device has only been tested in mice so far, it could be a huge boon to humans in the future. Currently, researchers are looking at potentially introducing it to people. With that said, more testing still needs to be done in order to make sure it's safe for testing.
The findings are published in the March 2016 journal Brain.
