Medical News
Japan researchers develop a simple way to spot signs of Alzheimer ’ s Disease
Japanese researchers have developed a technique to identify individuals who may have Alzheimer ’ s disease by asking simple questions and observing their behavior . The method is expected to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment .
The study , by researchers from Keio University and Saiseikai Yokohamashi Tobu Hospital , showed that Alzheimer ’ s disease can be predicted by identifying the “ head-turning sign ( HTS ).” This behavior , where patients turn their head toward a caregiver for assistance when a doctor asks a set of simple questions , is commonly seen in people with dementia .
The research was published in the medical journal Alzheimer ’ s Research & Therapy on Nov . 21 . The team , led by Keio University professor Daisuke Ito , conducted an experiment involving 155 participants , including both dementia patients and healthy individuals , using simple questions to look for signs of the disease based on answers and behavior .
Alzheimer ’ s disease is thought to develop when abnormal proteins such as amyloids accumulate in the brain , damaging nerve cells and impairing function .
The lecanemab drug , approved by the health ministry in September last year , targets these proteins and is designed to treat patients with early Alzheimer ’ s dementia and mild cognitive impairment — a precursor to the disease — underscoring the increasing importance of early detection .
By 2025 , it is estimated that approximately 6.75 million people age 65 and older — more than 1 in 5 of Japan ’ s over-65 population — will be living with dementia , according to a statement from the university . An average of three caregivers will be needed per dementia patient , and it is predicted that more than 10 million people will need to be involved in caregiving in the future .
In 2022 , the number of elderly people with dementia reached 4.43 million , according to data from the health ministry .
Vance trial marks milestone in T Cell Therapy for solid tumors
The largest ever clinical trial of T cell therapy for solid tumors has ended , heralding a new era for precision T cell therapy . Led by a Singapore clinician-scientist , the multinational , phase III VANCE trial demonstrates that Singapore has the expertise and capabilities to run a large-scale global cell therapy trial .
This international T cell therapy trial driven by Singapore ’ s biotech and the National Cancer Centre Singapore represents a significant milestone . The delivery of high-quality T cells at large scale has been a major barrier for extending the applications of these therapies . To have achieved this goal when T cell therapy was in its infancy makes this Singapore-led achievement even more commendable .
Following the promising NCCS Phase II trial of EBV-CTL therapy for NPC , the VANCE trial , a global , multi-centre , randomised , open-label Phase III clinical trial of T cell therapy was launched , with Prof Toh and team of Laboratory of Cell Therapy and Cancer Vaccine at NCCS as the overall coordinating principal investigator .
Collaborators were from international medical institutions such as Tan Tock Seng Hospital ( TTSH ), Universiti Malaya Medical Centre , King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital , National Taiwan University Hospital , Stanford School of Medicine , UCSF School of Medicine , Massachusetts General Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine .
A total of 330 patients were enrolled between July 2014 and January 2020 at 23 trial sites in Singapore , Malaysia , Thailand , Taiwan and the United States .
“ T cell therapies are not standardised but personalised and called a ‘ living therapy ’ as they comprise the body ’ s T cells that are alive , which grow and expand in the body to kill cancer , sometimes for many years . Our trial results indicate that more efforts are needed to improve how T cell therapies are developed and administered to optimise treatment outcomes for patients , and we have now started on these studies ,” said Prof Toh .
Efforts are now underway to harness the insights gleaned from this study into further investigations to benefit patients . The study team has started planning the VANCE trial biomarker studies , which aim to identify biomarkers in the patient ’ s immune system and in EBV CTL therapy
SOURCE : The Japan Times
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