Dosing (Carefully) With Radiation

"The primary goal of a therapy for Alzheimer's disease should be to improve the patient's quality of life."

"We want to optimize their well-being and restore communication with family and friends to avoid social isolation, loneliness and under-stimulation."

"Although the study was a small pilot and should be interpreted with caution, our results suggest that low-dose radiation therapy may successfully achieve this."

Dr.Morris Freedman, scientist, Division of Neurology, Baycrest Rotman Research Institute

"Numerous neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, are thought to be caused in part by oxidative stress that damages all cells, including those in the brain."

"We have natural protection systems to combat the damage, but they become less effective as we get older."

"Each dose of radiation stimulates our natural protection system to work harder."

"It’s not the image that we’re after [of a CT scanner] ... It’s the radiation. That’s what stimulates recovery in the patient."

"We should track biological markers of oxidative damage and neurodegeneration during therapy. Ultimately, we want a treatment that would delay the onset of Alzheimer’s in people who are at risk.”

Dr.Jerry Cuttler, Atomic Energy of Canada scientist, retired

High doses of radiation are known to have harmful effects on our health. However, low doses, such as those used for diagnostic CT scans, can help the body protect and repair itself. Image is in the public domain

Research recently published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease expressed the finding that modest amounts of radiation may help to maximize the body's natural capacity to protect and repair itself, through prompting the production of vital antioxidants. This represents a new pathway to treating Alzheimer's disease with the use of low doses of radiation, seen to vastly improve behavioural and cognitive abilities of patients exposed to the therapy -- virtually overnight -- the pilot study concluded.

Only four patients were involved in the study, with no placebo group included. The theory behind the study was based on a case report of a patient suffering from symptoms of severe Alzheimer's disease in 2015, a woman who had been given several doses of radiation to her brain that was seen to improve her movement, speech, appetite and cognition. High radiation doses have the potential to devastate the human body, while low doses appear beneficial in certain circumstances.

All four study participants were suffering from severe Alzheimer's symptoms. They all received three installments of low-dose radiation at two-week intervals at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto. Before and after treatment their behaviour and ability to communicate was closely monitored. Statements and allied evidence was collected from family, friends and caregivers of the four participants, three of whom demonstrated significant improvement within days of receiving their first radiation dose.

The results are decidedly encouraging. However, given the limitations of the study, the researchers involved felt that future follow-ups should focus on the reinforcement of the findings across larger clinical trials.

NeuroscienceNews.com

"I had an amazing visit with my dad this evening."

"I'm speechless from last night. He was excited to see me -- he spoke to me right away and gave me multiple kisses -- real kisses like years ago."

"He was clapping his hands to the music. My mom agreed it's been years since he has done this. Everyone is amazed."

Daughter of one of the treated patients