Statistics from the Alzheimer’s Association (http://www.alz.org) report that every 70 seconds someone will develop Alzheimer’s. There are many stages of memory loss one goes through before they have Alzheimer’s, one doesn’t suddenly get it.
"Our hats are off to the Memory Walkers. Their efforts in raising awareness about Alzheimer’s are helping to accelerate research efforts to find an Alzheimer's cure," says neuroscience researcher Mark Underwood, president of the Madison, Wisconsin-based biotech company, Quincy Bioscience. “News from our own research in this area is very good: Age related memory loss can be slowed, and in many cases reversed,” continues Underwood.
Quincy Bioscience research substantiates that “calcium overload” within the neurons cause those neurons to stop functioning, bringing about cognitive impairment and symptoms associated with Alzheimer's. Knowing this allowed them to develop a process (oral capsule called Prevagen) to buffer excess calcium from the neurons that occurs in aging and greatly improve brain cell function.
Underwood says a key difference between normal aging and Alzheimer's disease is the rate at which healthy neurons become overloaded with calcium.
"Humans are born able to manufacture their own calcium-binding proteins but the body gradually stops producing them at about age 40, and that's when the neurons start to weaken and the body begins to experience mild memory loss," says Underwood. "Those with Alzheimer's apparently stop producing these proteins at a faster rate so their cognitive impairment occurs with greater velocity."
Underwood says he is hopeful that a drug for Alzheimer's can be developed incorporating the calcium-binding protein he and his team developed.
"We have shown that generally healthy adults can improve their memory, focus, and concentration by addressing neuronal calcium," says Underwood. "We are optimistic that the same compound can be tested on Alzheimer's patients to assess their level of cognitive improvement."
