Vaccine improves memory in “Alzheimer's” mice

Reports of a successful vaccine against Alzheimer's disease are causing excitement in the scientific community. The vaccine induces an immune response specifically against beta-amyloid (the protein that makes up senile plaques in Alzheimer's) and has been shown to reduce and prevent plaque formation in mice. Scientists have now shown that vaccination with this peptide is also associated with an improvement in cognitive function (Nature 2000;408:979-84).

Although a number of pathophysiological changes occur in the brains of people who develop Alzheimer's disease, beta-amyloid and its precursor protein are known to have a central role in how the disease comes about. About a year ago, Elan Pharmaceuticals reported immunisation of a transgenic mouse model with …