Revolutionary Research That Will Help Us Understand The Human Brain’s Complexities Better
The human brain has always been somewhat of a mystery. Considered as an utterly complex organ, we’ve been forced to believe age-old notions about how it functions and how there’s probably nothing too significant we can do for it other than watch its abilities decline with time. However, that was the prevalent thinking until now.
Over the past few decades, scientists have come up with some amazing theories and revelations about this control center of the human body. They’ve made some very successful attempts to understand the brain’s complexities, and you’ll be shocked to know how massively small everyday changes affect our brains.
A look at the pace of study
Since the last decade, studies related to brain research have caught on at a steady pace, be it in terms of understanding cognitive decline, identifying the steps that help in reducing the risk of dementia, or developing new and improved treatments to treat and reverse Alzheimer’s. The main reason behind this deeper comprehension is the awareness around brain health in this fast-moving world and aging society.
Currently, researchers are looking for more detailed brain imageries for better genetic-risk profiling and dementia-related biomarkers with the help of urine, blood, and spinal fluids samples. There’s still a lot of work that has to be done, yet whatever conclusions have been bought into light as of now are very satisfying.
Detecting Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) at an early stage
AD is an extremely worrisome subject for anyone to discuss, and trust us when we say this, doctors are no exception. Marwan Sabbagh, M.D. and director of translational research at Cleveland Clinic, Lou Ruvo Center of Brain Health, states that doctors are quite reluctant when it comes to diagnosing AD. It makes them fairly uncomfortable as it is believed (though incorrectly) that it can be only diagnosed through an autopsy.
Luckily, a recent advancement in the realm of identifying AD has come to the surface. PrecivityAD, a test fully approved under FDA guidelines, measures the level of amyloid proteins in the blood. In case the levels seem to look a little doubtful, more tests and diagnosis can also be recommended to gauge a patient’s vulnerability to the condition.
Drugs that are helpful in the treatment
Usually, people with AD end up having clumps of beta-amyloid protein in their brains that lead to damaged cells. For many years, scientists have been researching how to stop that buildup, and thankfully, four drugs have been shortlisted that can initiate this process.
The first, called Aducanumab, has already been sent for an FDA approval around May 2021. To be fair, it’s not a sure-shot solution that promises to cure this condition, but it definitely builds hope for a better life. Additionally, the first drug that deals with dementia-related psychosis can also be approved this year. It will help in blocking certain serotonin receptors that cause hallucinations, paranoia, and delusions in dementia patients.
A different perspective
When we talk about brain health, people often relate it with the absence of any sort of injury or disease, but the reality is, that’s so much different than making the brain healthy. Promoting better brain health consists of building better cognitive abilities and improved social interactions on a daily basis. A healthy brain assists us in making better decisions and leads to a healthier lifestyle. But to take the initial steps towards those stages, understanding how it works is key.
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