Page 232 - The Memory Program How to Prevent Memory Loss and Enhance Memory Power

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Preventing Amyloid Formation

Many drug companies are now in hot pursuit of compounds (Beta-block is the name of one such
drug in development) that can block the enzymes that trigger the formation of Beta-amyloid, which
is the main protein component of the amyloid plaque. Recently, an experimental vaccine has also
been developed for this purpose. Many of these compounds are toxic, and we are still a long way
from translating these concepts into a clinically useful treatment. But if it does occur, millions of
patients and families with dementia, particularly Alzheimer's disease, will be eternally grateful.

Blocking Neurotransmitters

There may be ways to either block the formation or increase the destruction of other naturally
occurring toxic chemicals and neurotransmitters, which include nitric oxide, n-methyl-d-aspartate
(NMDA), and glutamate. Studies with glutamate antagonists have been unsuccessful in clinical trials
of patients with dementia, and fiddling with NMDA receptor function can be dangerous because of
the risk of seizures. Part of the problem is that we currently do not have a complete understanding of
how exactly these chemicals and neurotransmitters work in the brain, and what impact they have on
memory processes. As research evolves, compounds that can better target the right neurotransmitter
sites within the brain will be developed.

Genetic Strategies: There Is No “Memory Gene”

The more we learn about the brain, the more it becomes clear that there is no single “memory gene”
that holds the key. A complex web of interacting genes, chemicals, and neurotransmitters is involved
in an intricate dance to keep our brains ticking along accurately, and at the right pace.

Genetics is the holy grail of new technology in medicine. There is a lot of hype, which reaches a
crescendo with every breakthrough, be it the cloning of sheep or a new treatment for breast cancer.
But in my view, the hype is justified. An incredible number of diseases are primarily genetic in
origin, and we have little to no idea as to how to treat them, except for therapies that treat the
symptoms but not the disease itself. As our knowledge about human genetic structure and function
grows, more and more genetically engineered treatments will emerge. Eventually, some of our
science fiction fantasies will be transformed into human reality.