Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia; it’s a progressive disease with symptoms worsening over a number of years ^[1].

Those with Alzheimer’s have been found to have abnormal amounts of a chemical called acetylcholine in the brain, along with fibres and protein. While it is not known what causes this process to start, the effects are understood to reduce the effectiveness of healthy neurons, eventually resulting in their destruction^[2].

The total worldwide cost of dementia was estimated at around $818 billion (AED 3.4 billion) in 2015, accounting for just over 1% of global GDP at the time. More recent estimates suggest that the global economic burden has now risen to over $1.3 trillion (AED 4.7 trillion) annually, and is projected to increase further to approximately $2.8 trillion (AED 10.2 trillion) by 2030, reflecting the growing prevalence of the condition and its associated care needs.^[3] A study looking at the economic burden of dementia in the Arab world is estimated to range between $10.4 billion (AED 38.1 billion) and $13.9 billion (AED 51.4 billion), reflecting significant costs to healthcare systems and society.^[4]

It also reported that approximately 1.33 million people were living with dementia in 2021, highlighting its growing public health impact in the region.  Worldwide, an estimated 55 million people were living with dementia in 2021. This figure is expected to rise significantly over time, reaching around 78 million by 2030, and potentially increasing further to approximately 152.8 million people by 2050.^[4]

Alzheimer’s Disease Facts

• Women have a higher lifetime risk for Alzheimer’s than men – 1 in 5 compared to 1 in 10. ^[3]
• In the United Arab Emirates, dementia prevalence is estimated at around 1.33% among people aged 50 and over.^[4]
  Among those aged 60 and over in the UAE, prevalence increases to approximately 4.09%.^[4]
  Dementia prevalence in the UAE is significantly higher in the older population (aged 60+) compared with those aged 50+, reflecting the strong association between age and disease risk.^[4]
• Someone develops dementia every 3 seconds ^[5].
• The worldwide cost of dementia is about $1.3 trillion ^[5]

Alzheimer’s Disease, Cord Blood and Stem Cells

There are currently 15 clinical trials investigating the application of stem cells in Alzheimer’s disease^[6].

Studies using mice have shown some promise in using stem cells to treat Alzheimer’s. One study found that the mice which had received human umbilical cord blood showed improved cognitive capacities, particularly learning, memory and motor function. The team conducting the study found that monocytes (a type of white blood cell) derived from human umbilical cord blood consumed and cleared the plaque fragments responsible for AD ^[7].

Scientists in Japan are treating the condition in trial stages by transplanting mesenchymal stem cells from patients’ fat tissue to the bloodstream. Results so far offer hope that a cure could be found in the next few decades.

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) are playing a crucial role in the study of Alzheimer’s disease. Taking skin cells from patients with Alzheimer’s, scientists are able to reprogram the cells to create neurons. These neurons show some of the key features of Alzheimer’s and could enable scientists to understand better how and why the brain produces the plaques and tangles that cause the disease. This, in turn, can lead to the development of effective therapies ^[8].

References

1. 1. https://www.cdc.gov/alzheimers-dementia/about/alzheimers.html
   2. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/alzheimers-disease/causes/
   3. https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/facts-figures
   4. Qassem, T., Itani, L., Nasr, W., Al-Ayyat, D., Javaid, S. F., & Al-Sinawi, H. (2023). Prevalence and economic burden of dementia in the Arab world. BJPsych open, 9(4), e126. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2023.517
   5. https://www.alzint.org/about/dementia-facts-figures/
   6. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=stem+cells+alzheimers&Search=Search
   7. http://alzheimersnewstoday.com/2015/09/18/monocytes-human-umbilical-cord-blood-improve-alzheimers-cognitive-deficits/
   8. http://www.eurostemcell.org/factsheet/alzheimer’s-disease-how-could-stem-cells-help
   9. Cell transplantation, 24(11), 2237–2250. https://doi.org/10.3727/096368915X688894
   10. Alzheimer’s research & therapy, 13(1), 154. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13195-021-00897-2 

The information contained in this article is for information purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of a medical expert. If you have any concerns about your health we urge you to discuss them with your doctor.