In this Friday’s (19th) edition of the Medical Correspondent chart, of Novo Dia, neurosurgeon Fernando Gomes explained how a nasal vaccine against Alzheimer’s should work. Researchers in the United States are developing an immunizer against the disease that will be inhaled through the nose.
The project is still in its initial phase and the first clinical trials will be carried out in the coming weeks. Scientists will test the effectiveness and safety of the immunizer after 20 years of preclinical studies.
According to the researchers coordinating the project, the vaccine could help prevent Alzheimer’s and even be a form of treatment for the disease.
Fernando Gomes recalled that, as we saw during the coronavirus pandemic, vaccine development studies usually comprise four phases.
“In the first phase, the main objective is to test the safety and tolerability of the vaccine, that is, to check if it is bad, if it has a side effect or any impediment to progress”, said the doctor.
“The search [da vacina contra Alzheimer] involves 16 volunteers. They are people aged 60 to 80 years, who will receive two doses within a week — they all have the disease in its initial stage”, he added.
The doctor also highlighted that Alzheimer’s can be diagnosed from tests that detect the accumulation of beta-amyloid. “This is the protein that we know has an association with the progressive dysfunction and destruction of neurons”, explained Gomes.
(Posted by: André Rigue)
Reference: CNN Brasil
