Early treatment of brain lesions associated with Alzheimer’s disease can halt and even reverse the course of the mind-erasing ailment, according to authors of a study published on Thursday. The study provided the best evidence so far that early treatment which target lesions called beta-amyloid plaques could actually stop the disease’s progression, researchers said. “I think the results of this study indicate we are on the right track,” said Frank LaFerla, associate professor of neurobiology and behavior at the University of California, Irvine and head of the research team. “These results offer hope that in five to 10 years there will be therapies available to target beta amyloid plaques and have an effect on treating this disease,” he said. The study was published in the Aug. 5 issue of Neuron.
