Shocking news has come to light about Alzheimer's disease. According to a study published in the journal Nature, Alzheimer's disease can spread from one person to another due to a rare medical accident. However, it does not spread in the air like a virus or bacteria but can become infected under certain circumstances.
According to research, between 1959 and 1985, some patients in the UK were given human growth hormone extracted from the pituitary gland of organ donors. Unfortunately, this hormone was contaminated, causing some of these patients to later develop Alzheimer's disease.
What do experts say
Professor John Collinge, co-author of this study and director of the MRC Prion Unit, said that we are not saying that Alzheimer's disease spreads in the air. It is not like a viral or bacterial infection. This only occurs when people are unknowingly inoculated with human tissue or its extracts, which contain these seeds. However, this condition is very rare. The study reported that in patients who were given contaminated hormones, an accumulation of a protein called amyloid-beta was found in the brain, which is a major feature of Alzheimer's disease.
What is Alzheimer's?
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects memory and cognitive functions. It is the most common cause of dementia, which is characterized by abnormal protein deposits in the brain, leading to the formation of plaques and tangles. As the disease progresses, individuals experience memory loss and difficulties in daily tasks.
There is no cure for Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's gradually interferes with the ability to perform routine activities, affecting independence and quality of life. Not only this, genetic and environmental factors contribute to its development. At present, there is no cure for Alzheimer's disease yet.
(PC: Freepik)
