[ti:New Treatment Could Prevent, Reverse Alzheimer¡¯s]
[ar:Christopher Jones-Cruise]
[al:Health Report]
[by:www.21voa.com]
[00:00.00]New research suggests that a brain protein that has changed form 
[00:06.47]may be the cause of brain disorders -- including Alzheimer's Disease. 
[00:13.20]Researchers say they have developed a treatment 
[00:17.57]that may cause the protein to return to its original form, 
[00:22.76]preventing the disease from developing or reversing the effects 
[00:29.31]of the damage in people who already suffer from Alzheimer's.
[00:34.08]Researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts, 
[00:40.72]found that the shape of the protein -- which is called "tau" -- 
[00:46.46]is changed by severe injuries to the brain. 
[00:50.78]The scientists say when people are hit in the head many times, 
[00:57.01]they develop a condition called chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE.
[01:05.10]CTE develops in soldiers with head injuries. 
[01:10.20]People who play American football also suffer from CTE 
[01:17.14]after being hit in the head many times. 
[01:20.59]The memory, judgment and ability to function are affected in people with CTE.
[01:29.11]Alvaro Pascual-Leone is a neurologist -- a brain scientist. 
[01:35.89]He was one of the researchers who discovered the effect of brain injuries on the "tau" protein.
[01:43.74]"We know that the tau plays a key role in Alzheimer's disease. 
[01:49.28]And so it is possible that also there, in the absence of traumatic brain injury, 
[01:54.73]one might be able to protect the brain from the damage in the progression of the disease."
[02:00.46]The researchers recently published an article about their findings in the journal Nature. 
[02:07.04]Mr. Pascual-Leone and his colleagues reported that they had developed a treatment 
[02:14.81]that returns the damaged tau to its original, undamaged form. 
[02:21.71]He says it might be possible to use the treatment to stop the development of Alzheimer's Disease. 
[02:30.72]And he suggests it could also slow the loss of brain function in people who already have the disease.
[02:41.24]"If we were able to slow down the progression or to modify the course of the disease, 
[02:47.53]it would have a big impact on the well-being of the patients and their families."
[02:52.06]Scientists discovered the tau in mice that suffered brain injuries 
[02:58.03]began changing form in as little as 12 hours after the mice were hit in the head.
[03:06.57]Researchers hope to develop a blood test or use machines that can see into the brain 
[03:14.54]to help them identify changed tau. 
[03:18.61]Early identification of the problem in people with brain injury could help doctors 
[03:26.00]treat them quickly and stop the tau from changing.
[03:30.50]I'm Christopher Jones-Cruise.
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