Five people 'catch' Alzheimer's disease after medical treatment, hundreds more could be at risk

5 people “catch” Alzheimer’s disease after medical treatment

Can we contract Alzheimer's disease ? According to British researchers, five cases are linked to the administration of medical treatments years earlier. And hundreds more could be at risk.

Alzheimer's disease results from the aggregation of two molecules: proteins beta–< em>amyloidin the brain, where they form plaques and the Tau protein, in an abnormal form, inside the neurons. If the origin of this phenomenon is still to be clarified, certain elements such as genetics or age are widely highlighted.

And if taking certain treatments, years ago, was yet another risk factor ? In an article published in the journal Nature Medicine, researchers from University College London describe five cases of patients aged 38 to 55 who contracted the disease when nothing predisposed them to it. In common, ils had been treated during their childhood with a type of human growth hormone extracted from the pituitary gland of deceased individuals (c–hGH).

Growth hormones that raise questions

"This was used to treat at least 1,848 short people in the UK between 1959 and 1985 & quot;, explain the authors. "It was withdrawn in 1985 after it was recognized that certain batches were contaminated with prions (infectious proteins) which caused Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in certain people ."

In addition, these same researchers previously reported that some Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease patients after treatment with growth hormones also had premature deposits of beta-amyloid protein in their brains.

"It is important to emphasize that the circumstances in which we believe these individuals tragically developed Alzheimer's disease are very unusual and involve treatment very specific medical treatment, abandoned for a long time", reassure the authors. "There is no risk of the disease spreading between individuals or during routine medical care."< /p> Note: the British authorities invite people treated with hormones c–< em>hGH 1959 and 1985 to contact them for more information.